We got some very sad news the other day about Liam McGranaghan’s wonderful Red-tailed hawk being killed by a cat. And while Banjo is gone now, we wanted to send a note about this story so that it can be learned from. We love cats. I have 4 myself, 3 of which were feral cats that were coming to my bird feeders so I adopted them (or they adopted me, or something like that) and brought them indoors. They’re very happy inside. But, there are many many more out there.

As a community, it’s our responsibility to address this issue. Cats are not wildlife and should not be made to suffer outside, getting diseases and parisites. This example of a Red-tailed Hawk being killed is just one of thousands that plays out every day across our county yet it’s something tha goes virtually unnoticed. We can help address the problem through supporting our local Loudoun County Humane Society, the Loudoun County Animal Care and Control and other local animal rescue organizations as well as through keeping our own cats indoors.

A Tragic and Untimely Death
by Karen Coleman

January 11, 2010:  Banjo died today.  Her death was sudden, tragic, violent and unnatural.  A feral cat killed her.

Banjo was a beautiful, elegant young Red-tailed Hawk belonging to master falconer Liam McGranaghan.  Liam had raised her from a chick, spending countless hours over the last three years feeding her, tending her, and training her to hunt.  Along the way they bonded in that unique way that happens when a human is fortunate enough to develop mutual respect and love with another species and have it returned in kind.

Liam is a good friend, and I encouraged him to bring Banjo over to hunt our woods.  He agreed and gave Banjo a trial flight before Christmas.  Banjo’s flying went well but no food was caught.  Perhaps the heavy snow on the ground was just too strange for her.

We decided to try again on January 11.  Everything was going well, as Banjo flew and began to hunt.  From a tree branch, she tracked a squirrel on the ground, and, as Liam watched, flew towards it.  Unfortunately, also on the ground nearby was a feral cat leaving its den in the woods.  Cat and hawk clashed, and Banjo was killed instantly.  Liam ran to his hawk, but it was too late.

We had no idea there was a feral cat living in the vicinity.  If we had, Banjo would never have flown here.  I don’t blame the cat; it was defending itself.  But, it should not have been here in the first place.  Free-roaming cats, whether feral or domesticated, do not belong in nature.  They are often victims of abandonment, accidental loss, or failure by owners to keep their domesticated pets indoors and neutered or spayed.  They are also voracious predators of birds. 

Don’t misunderstand me, I love cats.  I have a Calico named Emma who is loved by my husband and me and is a big part of our family.  However, I also know that she is a dangerous predator, and given the chance would take any bird she could find.  She stays indoors and is very active, content and healthy.

The day after Banjo was killed, I was driving to Fairfax and listening to the news on the radio.  A report came on about the work of the Wildlife Center of Virginia and the animals they had rescued and treated over the past year.  During 2009, 222 animals were brought to the center after free-roaming cats attacked them.  

According to the center’s website, www.wildlifecenter.org, “birds and other animals that survive an initial cat attack are still in danger; unless treated, infections from the toxic bacteria found in a cat’s mouth kill a significant number of animals.”

Banjo never had a chance.

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