File Photo
Portland Tribune
Bird breeders in Beavercreek lost approximately 50 pheasants valued at $1,000 when an unknown number of suspects cut a lock to open up an aviary housing the animals last month.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office took the initial report at about 1:07 p.m. on March 18 at Estacada Game Birds, 25395 S. Beavercreek Road.
A volunteer at the farm believed that the suspects were an eco-terrorist group who bragged about the incident online. The owner of Estacada Game Birds declined to comment for this story, and CCSO has forwarded this case to the FBI and the Oregon Humane Society.
“These birds were bred, among other reasons, to suffer and die in pre-orchestrated canned hunts; a practice which represents the height of human arrogance and disregard towards animal life,” said the anonymous statement from the Animal Liberation Front. “This liberation was also done as a reminder that when we don’t allow fear to prevent us from taking action to directly free animals.”
CCSO Deputy Steve Funk found that sometime overnight, an unknown person(s) came upon the property and cut off the lock to the door on one of four large bird pens next to each other. The suspect(s) might have been scared off because they normally open all the pens. Not only has Estacada Game Birds been burglarized before, it is one of four similar types of businesses in Clackamas County to have been struck by the group.
Finding it “very easy” to access this property from any part of the roadway, Funk provided security suggestions for the property. Funk inspected the grounds and was unable to locate any evidence that might suggest the identity of who committed this crime.
“I did note the pens are very close to Beavercreek Road, and there is no fencing separating the property from the roadway,” he wrote in the police report.