The banned owl has clawed no less than three individuals outside the state Capitol in Salem in a series of attacks since late November, city parks office representative Tibby Larson said.

"It's silent. You're just walking along, minding your own business, and an owl comes silently at you from behind," Larson said.

Although uncommon, owl attacks are not inconceivable over the United States. A few attacks on joggers were accounted for in a Maryland park in October, and an owl attacked a Louisiana cop on Christmas Eve, as reported by media. The Oregon attacks are occurring near state government workplaces in Salem, but the owl is likely keener on awing potential mates than in putting forth a political statement, Larson added, noticing such attacks happen during courtship season. She then advised that when people are in that neighborhood, they should carry an umbrella or wear a hat.

Salem's forceful banned owl first struck local occupants last January and February in occurrences that motivated MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow to reveal an 'attack owl' road sign on her program. Maddow granted the Salem City Parks office consent to print the picture on actual road signs, which have been posted in ranges where the owl has struck, Larson said.

Offers of attack owl road signs have raised more than $20,000 for local parks, and local brewery, Gilgamesh Brewing, paid tribute by naming pale ale it released for the current year 'Hoot Attack,' Larson said. The banned owl is otherwise called the hoot owl.

"Everybody loves the owl - well, I'm sure those whose heads are clawed up don't, but everybody else," she also said.

While the wounds have been minor in the current year's attacks, the scratches can possibly get to be infected. Police in Salem are checking reports of owl attacks, but they hadn't captured any owls, representative Lieutenant Dave Okada said.