Mavro, a juvenile African black eagle, has been returned after being set loose during a break-in at West Coast Falconry in Marysville (Yuba County).
West Coast Falconry/GoFundMe
Cubbie, a peregrine falcon, remained missing Sunday from West Coast Falconry in Marysville (Yuba County). Someone broke into the facility and “intentionally released” its birds of prey.
West Coast Falconry
Someone broke into a Northern California falconry education center early Friday and intentionally released all of its birds, several of which are still missing and at risk, according to West Coast Falconry.
Staff at the falconry — located about 40 miles north of Sacramento in Marysville — found the premises vandalized and all 11 birds set free. The intruder or intruders destroyed equipment and merchandise, and released the birds by cutting gear from their legs and removing them from their enclosures, “leaving them to fend for themselves,” the organization said.
“These birds are not wild — they are trained and rely on human care,” West Coast Falconry said in a Facebook post. “Releasing them in this condition puts them at serious risk of injury or death.”
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Amadan, a barn owl, remained missing Sunday from West Coast Falconry in Marysville (Yuba County). Someone broke into the facility and “intentionally released” its birds of prey.
West Coast Falconry
Four birds were still missing as of midday Sunday: Walter, a great horned owl; Cubbie, a peregrine falcon; Amadon, a barn owl; and Cora, a dark-morph red-tailed hawk who is blind in one eye.
West Coast Falconry reported the incident to the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Leah Cummings, a former West Coast Falconry employee helping out after the incident, said it was not clear who had targeted the business, but that it seemed personal — among the damage was a photo of the owner that had been ripped apart.
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“We’re all just heartbroken and kind of at a loss,” Cummings said. “We have no idea who could have done this.”
Cora, a blind red-tailed hawk, remained missing Sunday from West Coast Falconry in Marysville (Yuba County).
West Coast Falconry
The center said it was actively working to locate and recover the missing raptors, and asked for help from nearby residents to look out for birds who are “unusually comfortable around people.”
People should not approach the raptors, but instead should report any sightings to West Coast Falconry.
A neighbor spotted Mavro, a juvenile African black eagle with a 6-foot wingspan, about 2 miles away from the falcon center Saturday. Staff retrieved the eagle and brought it back to the falcon center in the passenger seat of a car.
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Mavro was “quite hungry,” but otherwise not injured, and “flew right into his chamber, his safe place,” the center said.
Walter, a great horned owl, remained missing Sunday from West Coast Falconry in Marysville (Yuba County).
West Coast Falconry
Opened in 2006, West Coast Falconry is an education and conservation center offering classes and experiences such as a Basic Falconry Lesson, Raptor Meet and Greet and Owl Encounter, giving people a place to have “intimate interactions with birds of prey.”
The owner, Kate Marden, has flown her birds on various shows and networks, including “MythBusters,” National Geographic and KQED.
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The organization received an outpouring of support over the weekend as people donated more than $8,600 to a GoFundMe page, which is raising money for search efforts, equipment replacement and upgraded security.
The center said all reserved classes will proceed as planned.