"Tragic Death of Flaco the Owl: Rat Poison and Pigeon Herpes Found in System"

Flaco the Eurasian Eagle Owl, who captivated New Yorkers after escaping from the Central Park Zoo, tragically died after a necropsy revealed he had severe pigeon herpesvirus and four different rat poisons in his system. The 13-year-old owl, who had become a regular pigeon eater after his escape, was found to have been slowly poisoning himself with rat poison while feasting on rats in and around Central Park. The zoo attributed his death to a combination of infectious disease, toxin exposures, and traumatic injuries, ultimately placing the blame on the vandals who set him free.