| OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police are asking the public for any information on an incident where someone shot and killed two adult common loons and their chicks in Okanogan County near Chesaw, Wash. Non-governmental organizations are offering a $6,000 reward for information leading to convictions. The incident occurred the weekend of June 22, when WDFW Officers responded to a report of multiple dead loons near Beaver Lake on the Colville National Forest. With the help of several concerned community members, the officers recovered two adult loons and one chick. A second deceased chick was reportedly seen in the lake earlier that day. Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the area the evening before. The Department encourages anyone who might have relevant information about this incident to contact WDFW at 877-933-9847, email WDFW’s poaching tip email, or send a text tip to 847411. The public can also report online on WDFW’s website. Tips can be provided anonymously. Illegally killing a common loon is a misdemeanor (RCW 77.15.130.c.ii) punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $500 per violation. Additionally, a penalty of $2,000 per bird can be assessed upon conviction. Columbiana, Conservation Northwest, Delta Waterfowl’s Eastern Washington Chapter, First Hunt Foundation, Northwest Swan Conservation, Washington Waterfowl Association (WWA), and the WWA Seattle and Southwest chapters are contributing to a collective total reward of $6,000 for information leading to convictions in this case. The common loon (Gavia immer) is listed as a state sensitive species in Washington and is protected in the United States as a migratory, non-game species by state and federal laws. There are only 12 known breeding pairs of common loons nesting this year in northeastern Washington, and an unknown, but fewer number of nesting pairs west of the Cascade Mountains. The main threats to common loons at breeding lakes are nest disturbance, lead poisoning, and poaching. The population of common loon pairs nesting in Washington has been increasing slowly, up from four known pairs in 1995. This increase is likely the result of focused collaborative conservation work between WDFW, the U.S. Forest Service, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Biodiversity Research Institute, dedicated volunteers, and many other partners. WDFW Police works to protect the public’s safety and to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. |
| Adult and juvenile common loons at Beaver Lake on June 10, 2024, just 11 days before the incident. The chicks hatched on May 19 and 20. Photo by Daniel Poleschook, Jr. and Virginia R. Poleschook |