From Mandela Namaste March 2, 2025
A Minneapolis nonprofit is speaking out after receiving reports of people harassing owls at a local bird sanctuary.
According to KMSP, two owls could be seen in deep conversation one evening, and the prospect of witnessing intimate animal communication up close enticed some reckless visitors to the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary, despite numerous signs asking guests to stay on the trail. According to one of the reports, one visitor even brought a ladder near the owls’ tree to try and get a closer look.
“People were going off trail trying to get a closer view by being near the tree,” said Constance Pepin, a board member of Friends of Roberts Bird Sanctuary. “Apparently, we were told that it had been happening for a while.”
In a Facebook post responding to the incidents, Friends of Roberts representatives wrote: “Besides the fact that Park Board rules prohibit going off trail and harassing wildlife, it’s very troubling that anyone would think this behavior is OK anywhere, and especially in a bird sanctuary. No picture is worth harassing and harming wildlife, not to mention disrupting and alarming other visitors to the Sanctuary.”
Civilians interacting with wildlife remains a serious problem. People go viral frequently for trying to take close pictures of or make contact with animals, and scientists warn time and again that this behavior is ill-advised. It causes these animals stress and, in a worst-case scenario, could result in them leaving their habitats entirely.
“It’s pretty simple,” said Stephen Rice, a Sanctuary board member, according to KMSP. “Just go out and go to this place or other places out in nature and just observe. I think the proper thing to do is if you see an owl in the daytime, observe quietly from the trail, take pictures, but don’t get close, don’t play recordings.”
“It was shock and disappointment,” said Rice upon learning of the incidents. “They are nocturnally active. … During the day is their time to rest. It would be like somebody coming into your home in the middle of the night and waking you up.”
Civilians interacting with wildlife remains a serious problem
Is it common enough for soldiers to interact differently with wildlife, that this is a useful distinction?
Why would they bring this up at all?
Maybe they mean vs scientists? Lol
Most scientists are civilians, although there are some military scientists of course.
They wrote ‘civilians’ to avoid being rude and write ‘commoners’.
When thesauruses run wild!
I have never seen it used like this before either.
Unfortunately I doubt pleading with the public will have a significant impact on the behaviours of ignorant selfish individuals.
It sucks but recurring situations like this of many eventually drive the desire for legal/financial consequences.
It reminds me of the behavior that would make people destroy a 150 million year old rock formation in a state park.
Something is truly wrong in the minds of some people.
I heard if you lick their talons you get a free wish!
(I did not hear that.)
Maybe if their wish was to lose weight they would be helped by the gastrointestinal disorder? 🤢
Possibly. How much could a nose weigh though? :D
/ Thomas Wedders has entered the chat.
