CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- A peregrine falcon, a species classified as threatened in Ohio, has been found dead in downtown Canton.

State wildlife official Damon Greer tells The Repository ( http://bit.ly/w0179R ) the carcass discovered along a street on Wednesday may be that of a bird that fathered falcon chicks in the city for nearly a decade.

The falcon was known as Maverick in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources database.

Greer says peregrine falcons usually die when they're killed by one of their own. He says Maverick was growing old, so it was time for the bird to be "replaced" by another mating male.

The falcons may live up to 15 years.

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Information from: The Repository, http://www.cantonrep.com