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Article: Texas city enlists hawks in battle against grackles
- Article from:
- Charleston Gazette
- Article date:
- February 4, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Charleston Gazette. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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FORT WORTH, Texas - Kujo perched on a tree branch in downtown's
Burnett Plaza, warily watching for prey.
No grackles or starlings were in sight.
Instead, a man raised his arm.
Kujo, a 2-year-old Harris's hawk, quickly flew low and fast
through the chilly morning air to reach the outstretched arm of
Roger Crandall, his handler.
Rewarded with pieces of mouse meat, he knew that next time, his
bounty could be bigger.
Kujo and his working mate, Blackjack, could be the newest tools
in the city's efforts to drive out grackles - long known as
"downtown's feathered menace."
Recent changes in federal law, prompted by local falconers and
officials, allow special permits to be issued so the hawks' ...