Wanaka falcon advocate Mary Chaffey yesterday reminded poultry owners falcons are a protected species.
Several people in the Mt Barker area have reported losing hens to falcon attacks in recent weeks.
Ms Chaffey was concerned publicity about the attacks, in the Otago Daily Times yesterday, increased the chance of a falcon being harmed.
She said there had been an "unconfirmed'' shooting of a falcon in the Faulks Rd area of Wanaka, but declined to elaborate.
"That's why I've got my dander up.
"And now the likelihood of somebody losing the plot over their chickens being killed and shooting a falcon has actually gone up.''
Ms Chaffey said she had lost hens to falcon attacks, but the problem was not difficult to resolve.
She advised hen owners to "cut off the food supply'' to falcons for a couple of weeks by keeping hens under cover after an attack.
"They will move and hunt somewhere else.''
