Topgolf Nets Trap Two Raptors

Top-down view of Topgolf entrance with ramps and stairs — Photo: FotosForTheFuture / Shutterstock

Two raptors trapped in Topgolf’s towering nets within a week turned a design feature into a wildlife hazard now at the center of a lawsuit.

Story Highlights

Two separate raptors were entangled in Topgolf’s Holtsville, Long Island nets within days.
State and local responders engaged while activists said the site lacked a rescue plan.
Wildlife officials and reviews warned tall nets and bright lights can injure or kill birds.
Topgolf says incidents are rare, nets are aviary-style, and rescue steps are in place.

What sparked the lawsuit: two entanglements in one week

Local outlets reported a hawk stuck about 100 feet up in a Holtsville Topgolf net and freed after roughly a day. Days later, an osprey became entangled at the same site. Animal rescuers, firefighters, police, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responded. Rescue groups called it the second raptor in a week and pressed for changes. These documented events support claims that the nets can snag birds mid-flight.

Topgolf said staff saw the osprey moving within the netting, paused gameplay, and closed early. The company stated it worked with local police, fire, and the state agency, and later said the bird flew off on its own. Topgolf added it is committed to the safety of guests, team members, and wildlife. These statements frame the events as managed and non-fatal at that site on that day.

Warnings from agencies and reviews about tall nets and lights

Before the New York incidents, wildlife officials and environmental reviews had flagged risks. Colorado wildlife officers warned that 175-foot nets and bright lights could harm birds and bats, including eagles and migratory species. A San Diego waterfront review said bright lights could draw birds into nets and cause entanglement, with state wildlife officials noting possible direct mortality. These are risk-based assessments, but they show foreseeability of harm.

Earlier reporting also captured conservation groups’ concern that transparent netting could block flight and lead to collisions. Analysts said facility height and lighting could affect birds that breed, feed, or rest nearby. These comments do not prove a national death toll, but they outline a credible mechanism. They also explain why local entanglements prompted faster calls for prevention steps at operating sites.

Topgolf’s counter: rare events, aviary-style nets, and rescue procedures

Topgolf and local officials in past coverage said bird incidents at other locations are very rare. A company real estate leader said Topgolf uses the same small-pattern netting found in zoo aviaries. He also described a standard procedure to remove any trapped bird safely. After the Holtsville osprey incident, the company highlighted coordination with responders and an outcome where the bird flew away.

These points answer the charge of indifference but not the core risk. If the nets do catch birds, even rarely, venues need fast rescue plans, trained teams, and gear ready on site. That is why New York’s state agency said it is open to “potential solutions” for future trapped-raptor cases. This debate now turns on execution: are prevention and rescue strong enough to meet the known risk?

Why this matters beyond one venue

The lawsuit taps a wider frustration with big projects that shift costs onto communities and nature. People on the left and right see a pattern: companies chase profits while problems fall to local responders and taxpayers. Here, the facts show warnings on record and two real entanglements within a week. What is missing is a national bird mortality count tied to these nets, which limits sweeping claims today.

Reasonable steps exist now. Sites can dim or shield lights during peak flight periods, add visual markers on nets, and stage rescue tools and trained staff. Cities can require monitoring logs and public reporting, as some plans already propose. These moves do not kill jobs or fun. They show basic care for shared wildlife while holding a popular brand to its safety promises. That balance is how trust gets rebuilt.