Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Foundation supports recovery of injured peregrine falcon

Madame X, an adult female peregrine falcon that has nested at the Milwaukee County Power Plant, was found shot and seriously injured in West Allis on Feb. 27. She was unable to fly and in obvious distress. She is being cared for at the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRC).

Madame X suffered extensive injuries. Several shotgun pellets were lodged in her body, and she also had a broken collar bone. She likely will not fly again. Nevertheless, she is improving, and the staff at the rehabilitation center is impressed by her feistiness and hearty appetite.

Authorities believe Madame X was purposely shot and are asking for the public’s help in making an arrest. The falcon was found around 2 p.m. in a yard outside the Cocktails & Dreams tavern at 55th and Grant streets in West Allis. Anyone who heard or saw anything unusual during this timeframe is asked to call West Allis Crime Stoppers at 414-476-2274. Callers may request confidentiality.

A $5,000 reward is being offered by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party. The We Energies Foundation also is contributing $2,500 to the WRC for Madame X’s continued care and recovery.

We Energies has been involved in Wisconsin’s peregrine falcon recovery effort since the early 1990s. The company sponsored the release of captive-produced peregrines and then installed nest boxes at six power plant sites. To date, nearly 200 peregrines have been produced at company facilities. Last year, peregrines nesting at We Energies power plants accounted for 20 percent of Wisconsin’s total state production.

Peregrine falcons are listed as an endangered species in Wisconsin. They also are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act. Shooting a peregrine falcon is a serious crime, punishable by jail time and fines. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is the lead investigative agency in this case.