WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) — Walla Walla park officials are certain the predator that has killed about two dozen birds at the Pioneer Park Aviary is a big raccoon.
A motion detector camera showed the raccoon stealing bait from a trap.
Walla Walla trapper Leo Pauley, who is licensed to capture pest animals, thinks it’s an urban raccoon — not afraid of people.
The Union-Bulletin reports the raccoon has been raiding the aviary since April, killing and eating rare chickens, ducks, geese and peacocks.
Caretaker Joanna Lanning says the last break-in was Sunday but no birds were killed. She’s been repairing fences and nets to keep the raccoon out.
