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DRAFT had rehabilitated injured birds and that any responsible falconer would not fly his or her bird in a residential neighborhood. He noted that attacks are generally provoked by some action, such as getting too close to a nest, and added that because a Chihuahua resembled the hawks' natural prey, he would not take a Chihuahua into the wild. He noted that raptors were wild birds, not domesticated animals. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Fox regarding whether any permits for wild animals such as a mountain lion, wolf, or coyote have ever been issued in Pleasanton, Ms. Amos replied that had not been found within staff's research. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Blank regarding whether there was an issue of federal pre-emption in this case, Ms. Harryman replied that there was not. She added that the fact that the applicant was State-licensed as a falconer did not automatically grant the ability to keep a hawk in Pleasanton, and that the City was able to regulate the matter via a conditional use permit. In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Fox regarding emails by the applicant describing hunting and training, Ms. Decker understood that there were private properties where she was allowed to hunt and train Ariel, the hawk. She added that the release of the prey was part of falconry, which was both an art and a sport. She noted that the release of live prey was part of the bird's training and that feeding a live mouse to a snake was considered to be feeding, as opposed to hunting. She added that freelofting and the kill of live prey took place in the mew, which is large enough so that the bird can adequately spread its wings during freelofting and exercise without being tethered. Commissioner Olson noted that this particular bird was near death when captured near the Oakland Airport. He viewed this as a rehabilitation project, as stated in the staff report. Commissioner Blank noted that when a bird was being rehabilitated by specialists for release into the wild, it was generally not exposed to humans so as not to remove its natural, instinctive fear of humans. Chairperson Fox noted that another email described another hawk released to the wild by the applicant after two days. Ms. Decker noted that the applicant had this bird for approximately two years and that it was anticipated that it would return to the wild after another year or two. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Pearce regarding how the live quail were obtained, Ms. Decker responded that she did not know but believed that there were probable sources available and that they were not being trapped. In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Fox regarding whether the applicant had a number of quails in her backyard, Ms. Decker replied that she did not know but understood that the applicant had a source for live feed for the hawk. She noted that using the live feed in the mew DRAFT EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 12/12/2007 Page 6 of 9