Last Friday, 17 April 2026, my sister, brother-in-law, and I were driving up to West Coast Falconry in Marysville, California, to participate in one of their classes. On the way there, we got a phone call from them: in the early hours of the morning, someone had broken into the Falconry, coaxed the birds out of their enclosures, removed their bands and jesses, and destroyed and vandalized much of the falconry equipment. At the time of the call, all of the birds were still missing, and the sheriff had yet to arrive on the scene.

West Coast Falconry is owned and operated by a master falconer, with a small staff of dedicated people who are devoted to these birds. They run on a tight budget, so this has been devastating both emotionally and financially.

The Falconry's birds include falcons, hawks, owls, and one eagle. These birds are captive-bred or rescued and depend on their handlers for survival.

As of yesterday, four of the birds are still missing.

Local news reports:

https://youtu.be/n43_Ij8P36g

https://youtu.be/wyEq6qVpQ58

A GoFundMe page has been launched, and includes regular updates on the status of the missing birds.

Some notes, based on the comments I have seen on other sites:

* At this time, there are no reported suspects in the case. I understand the impulse to immediately blame PETA or other "animal rights" groups, but this is also rural California, and there are plenty of bored teenagers and Trumpinistas out there as well. Please do not turn the comments into a morass of unfounded accusations about whatever perpetrators you might find most likely.

* This is not some roadside petting zoo or a "Tiger King" situation. West Coast Falconry is dedicated to conservation, education, and the rehabilitation of injured animals. Please do not turn the comments into a place to spew venom about either the practice of falconry or West Coast Falconry itself.