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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fire danger rises to 'extreme' on Tuesday ... Chinese site uses Medford domain name for car scam ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... Fire danger rises to 'extreme' on Tuesday ... Chinese site uses Medford domain name for car scam ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... BEND It's no hoot: City post signs about attacking owl Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:10 PM By The Associated Press Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:10 PM » Social News SALEM — MSNBC host Rachel Maddow inspired Oregon's capital to post new warning signs in a park where four runners reported attacks from an angry owl likely defending its nest against perceived threats. One jogger, a surgeon, said the owl hit him twice in Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, and so hard he thought he was having a stroke or an aneurysm. Another said the bird swiped his longtime running cap and nicked his scalp. Maddow suggested on air last week that the city should post a vivid yellow warning sign using the iconic pedestrian stick figure bent forward at a run. Above, claws extended, is a raptor. Salem officials liked the idea. Mark Becktel, parks and transportation services manager, said the city secured rights to reproduce the sign and is posting 20 of them. "It's just making people aware that there's an owl there that for whatever reason swoops down and goes after people's hats," he said. Officials previously put up handbills with printed warnings that Maddow said weren't strong enough. Birders say the assailant is a barred owl, an aggressive bird that's especially so during the current mating season. They say it may calm down soon. Much of the angry owl's play in the press was in fun. The local paper, the Statesman Journal, had an online naming contest. "Owlcapone" got 238 votes, leading among 11 suggestions. Coming in third, at 188 votes, was "Rachel Maddowl." The MSNBC host suggested the sign design during a 14-minute segment Feb. 5 about wackiness in Oregon. Among her topics were a Republican leader who collects urine samples for scientific research and allegations that Gov. John Kitzhaber's fiancee used his office to win contracts for her consulting business. Politically, "Oregon is nuts," Maddow said. But what amused her most was the threat "looming over the state of Oregon right now, looming silently and occasionally swooping down and terrifying the state — and sometimes drawing a little blood." By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:10 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501