11/03/08 Jefferson County

 In Jefferson County a domesticated falcon was shot and killed.  The falcon's owner was letting the bird fly back toward its nest a week ago.  When it flew over a home on Clackamas Drive northwest of Madras someone shot the bird, possibly with a 22 caliber rifle.   

The bird's owner,  John Lees, confronted the suspect  who denied everything.  Jefferson County Sheriff Deputies tell KOHD News the suspect claims he was protecting his chickens from the predatory bird.   A child at the home returned the bird's body to the owner.

"I'm just baffled he would shoot something that was first off that tame and secondly something that had something electronic hanging on it," Lees says.

No arrests have been made.    The bird's owner does have a permit to own falcons and owns two more. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is involved in the investigation.