For Release: October 20, 1999

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management is investigating the shooting of an osprey near the Burlingame Management Area in Charlestown on Thursday, October 7, and is seeking information regarding the shooting.

On the afternoon of October 7, a DEM park ranger driving on Klondike Road stopped to assist a passerby who had found a wounded osprey near a power line that crosses the road close to Burlingame and Watchaug Pond. The ranger brought the bird to Burlingame where it was taken by a DEM environmental police officer to wildlife rehabilitator Dr. Meredith Bird. X-rays revealed birdshot in the bird's wing and shoulder, and, although surgery was attempted, its injuries were too severe, and the osprey had to be euthanized.

"We're hoping that someone will have some information for us," said Steven Hall, Chief of DEM's Division of Enforcement. "There was no hunting season on the date of this incident, except for raccoons, so the sound of a shotgun would have been noticeable. Also, people enjoy watching ospreys. Someone may have noticed that an osprey he or she had been watching is no longer around. We'd like to know that, too, to try to locate its home. Perhaps it did its fishing for food at Watchaug Pond."

Osprey have made a significant comeback in Rhode Island since the prohibition on the use of the pesticide, DDT. Misuse of pesticides, including DDT, had reduced the number of known osprey nests from 140 to a low of just two nests in 1967. During the past 20 years, the number of active nests has risen from 12 to 63. The number of young fledglings increased this year to a record 109 birds, compared to just 15 in 1979. Three of this year's young were the first fledged in Jamestown since 1960.

"The return of the osprey is a success story," said Lori Suprock, supervising wildife biologist for DEM. "The shooting of such a bird is a senseless act and a sad commentary on the callous disregard some people have for protected wildlife." Ospreys are protected under state law, and also under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1916, which calls for strong penalties in the case of violations.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the DEM Division of Enforcement's 24-hour hotline at 1-800-222-3090.