A northern hawk owl seen in Canada. Photo by Krun via Wikimedia Commons

The Colville Tribes of Washington issued a citation against a person accused of killing a rare owl on the reservation.

The northern hawk-owl was found hanging from a tree after it had been shot last month. The bird had attracted significant attention because it is rarely seen outside of Alaska or Canada.

“I am pleased that our office was able to conclude its investigation. It is important that the laws protecting our natural resources be enforced,” Henry Hix, the chief of Natural Resource Enforcement on the reservation, said in a press release quoted by The Tribal Tribune.

An unidentified tribal member faces a $5,000 fine in connection with the shooting. The person could request a mitigation hearing or challenge the citation in tribal court, The Spokesman Review reported.

Get the Story:
Colville tribes issue citation for killing of Northern Hawk Owl on reservation lands (The Tribal Tribune 2/10)
Tribes issue $5,000 citation for killing of owl (KING 5 News 2/10)
Killing of northern hawk owl nets $5K citation (The Spokesman Review 2/9)

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Colville Tribes investigate shooting death of rare owl on reservation