New York zoo ends attempt to recapture Flaco the owl in Central Park-Officials say they will keep close eye on Eurasian eagle-owl, who has been successful at hunting the city’s plentiful supply of rats

Guardian ^ | 2-19-23

[SJackson]

For two weeks, an owl that escaped the Central Park Zoo has eluded capture as legions of fans worry about its ability to survive in New York City.

Professional dog walker Jim Buck heads uptown early on July 2, 1996, with his charges in tow on New York's Upper East Side. Buck is a pioneer in the field known as urban dog handling and serves as an all-around dog adviser to Manhattan's gentry. (AP Photo/Rick Maiman) Fecal bacteria ‘rampant’ on New York sidewalks, researchers find Read more Would Flaco, a majestic Eurasian eagle-owl, go hungry because he had not developed an ability to hunt while in captivity? The answer was a resounding no: Flaco is feeding on park rats.

[Red Badger]

[BobL]

“The Eurasian eagle-owl”

They’d call it the Russian Eagle-Owl, but that name is prohibited by the 8th package of sanctions.

[BradyLS]

Flaco has opened a pest control business and the NYC ‘rats wants to reign him in. Typical.

[allendale]

A sole owl that eats rats. Metaphor for a solitary Republican lawman in a city of decadent Democrats.

[Track9]

RAT hunters are badly needed.

[EinNYC]

Some of the native red tailed hawks of Central Park and elsewhere in NYC have succumbed to eating rats which had been exposed to pesticides. I sure hope Flaco does not eat poisoned rats. It would be a real shame to lose him to that.

[No name given]

Good analogy.

[Theoria]

They do have hobby rat patrols at night that use terriers and similar breeds to kill them.

[teeman8r]

flaco is an owl.

flacco was a raven.

one of my favorite ravens of all time.

flaco is an awesome owl.

[dfwgator]

He's a Jet now.

[DeFault User]

Flaco is going to become Gordo if he keeps this up. :)

[SJackson]

Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.

After a couple weeks on his own the authorities gave up on capture.

[gundog]

The only smart thing that I’ve heard attributed to the Adams administration is the CO2 poisoning of the rats in Battery Park

[Opinionated Blowhard]

“We are going to continue monitoring Flaco and his activities and to be prepared to resume recovery efforts if he shows any sign of difficulty or distress,” officials said.

Monitor it for distress? Are you kidding me? Its a freakin owl. It is a wild animal that is killing rats. It will be fine. Talk about an agency looking to justify its spending.

[metmom]

They should get it a mate and release a couple more pairs.

Then again, that could backfire is they are invasive species.

There ought to be enough native owls and hawks from America to use.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Eurasian eagle-owl”

What the heck is an “eagle-owl”?

[Jeff Chandler]

Meanwhile, in Central Park . . .

.

[Jeff Chandler]

Now to be known as a “Freedom Eagle-Owl”.

[W.]

Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it!

--Rodney Dangerfield