Snowy Owls travel thousands of miles south each winter from the Canadian tundra where they spend the spring and summer. They are often temporary visitors to airports in our region, because airports resemble their native Arctic tundra habitat. Airports like Boston's Logan International have a successful history of trapping and relocating these magnificent animals away from the dangers of the airport. Recently, after a huge public outcry and media attention, JFK International Airport has adopted the same methods to handle the owls at their facility.

We have confirmed that Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has begun shooting the owls as well. The unnecessary extermination of these beautiful birds is inexcusable when there are other effective methods for managing these birds that are being ignored. This practice must be stopped immediately.

We ask The Kent County Department of Aeronautics and Gerald R. Ford International Airport to seek other proven non-lethal methods for ensuring the safety of air traffic and the Snowy Owl. 

For reference, here's the response of JFK International Airport to the public outcry at their facility: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Port-Authority-Killing-Snowy-Owls-Airports-Source-235026351.html

And an article about how Detroit Metro Airport traps and relocates Snowy Owls: http://michiganradio.org/post/why-airports-look-home-snowy-owls

Article from Grand Rapids local news on Jan 21, 2014: http://www.woodtv.com/news/local/grand-rapids/snowy-owls-shot-at-ford-airport