Government Conservation officers are considering trapping and relocating two Snowy Owls and possibly a third that have been seen in Bermuda over the past week.

Killing the non-native accidental visit predator birds has been ruled out. In 1987, a Snowy Owl was killed after it killed five adult Cahows on the islands in Castle Harbour.

A Government spokesperson for the Department of Conservation Services said the birds have not been seen near Castle Harbour and they are likely to prey on Bermuda’s feral bird species. The Snowy Owl is active both day and night.

The Arctic birds are thought to have been blown here during the cold weather blasts during November.

The Department of Conservation Services will not consider euthanasia, because of the limited threat to the endangered Cahow and the bird’s own threatened status.

The birds are also expected to be on the Island for a short time. Conservation Services plan to use non-lethal noise deterrent to move the birds from a problem area.

The department and the Bermuda Audubon Society have discussed relocation which would mean partnering with a North American conservation organisation to release it in the wild.

The spokesperson said: “While these magnificent birds are with us the Department would appreciate public assistance in ‘tracking them’, more for interest than concern, by e-mailing conservation@gov.bm or posting a message on the Department of Conservation Services’ Facebook page.

“The majority of Cahows have now formed their pairs and have left to fatten up for nesting in January. So the danger to our national bird is minimal.”

Cahows spend November in a nest hunt and courtship ritual and leave Bermuda for December before returning in January to lay one egg per pair. They are being carefully watched by the Principal Terrestrial Conservation Officer.