The news that Flaco has been killing and eating pigeons has raised some concerns on social media. His change of diet from rodents to pigeons most likely lowers his health risks. The pigeons are less likely to be poisoned by could contain lead, Avian Flu or Frounce.

What is a major concern is something the zoo administration, the “Free Flaco” movement, the media and local birding organizations have all chosen to ignore which is, what will Flaco’s impact be on native wildlife? Will Flaco move on from killing feral Rock Pigeons to native birds? And will he raid hawk and falcon nests, as Eurasian Eagle-Owls do in Europe and Asia?

This spring, because people acted in their own self-interests and only thought about the short term, we may have a major crisis. If Flaco behaves like other Eurasian Eagle-Owls and predates on raptor and falcon nests, what should be done? At this point he will be very difficult to recapture, since he’s left Central Park and changed diets. And since he is still the property of the WCS, who has the authority to recapture him is also a difficult question to answer.

The only option might be to let him take protected birds or euthanize him. Neither option is a positive outcome.

The likelihood that Flaco would interfere with native wildlife was clear from the beginning. It’s frustrating that we have let Flaco’s beauty, celebrity status and resilience blind us from focusing on the long-term impact of letting an invasive species remain loose in New York City.