Apr 30, 2014

Opossum joey reunited with mom

This afternoon WES was contacted about a baby opossum that had become separated from its mother. Demolition of a residential building revealed the mother opossum hiding underneath. She had just enough room to keep safe until nightfall.

In all of the commotion, one of her joeys got lost. Here is the video of them being reunited. 



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Apr 28, 2014

Fawn reunions



It's that time of year! Baby wild animals are all about. 

Occasionally, little ones get separated from their mothers. More often than not, a quick helping hand is all they need to get safely on their way.

On April 17th, Amanda was taking a morning walk on Vienna Road in Aptos when she saw a female mule deer crossing the road with its fawn trailing close behind. 

The doe scaled a dirt embankment and disappeared into the brush. Her fawn, though, couldn't make it up the steep slope.

As Amanda approached to keep the baby out of the road, the newborn fawn did what it's supposed to do - it dropped to the ground and laid still. This is an instinctive response to the approach of a potential predator. A behavior they lose as they get older. 

The fawn laid still while Amanda phoned WES for help.

WES founder, Rebecca Dmytryk took the call:
We have to be really cautious about giving advice over the phone. In fact, instead of giving instruction, I usually just describe what we would do if we were there. 
I felt this was a time-sensitive situation, so I walked Amanda through a hypothetical fawn reunion, including a strong warning about the mother. Does can be extremely protective of their babies and have been known to attack people. The key to staying safe is being large and many - a doe is less likely to take on a "pack". 
We ended the call with Amanda very confident that she could safely place the baby in a good spot for mom to retrieve it. 
I called her back a short while later to check on the status of the fawn. 
Heeding our warning about the doe, Amanda got someone to help her get the baby above the slope and situated in a quiet spot where its mom could find it.

GREAT JOB AMANDA!  

Then, two days later, WES received a similar call about a fawn found crossing a road. 

The caller, Nicole, described seeing the fawn from her kitchen window as it was crossing the quiet rural road. She said it circled a few times then laid down on the shoulder of the road. 

Nicole placed traffic cones on either side of the baby and then backed off, hoping to see the mother retrieve her little one. 

Sure enough, the doe appeared from the brush on the opposite side of the road, but just for a few seconds.




After calling WES and hearing an explanation of the reuniting process, Nicole and her husband felt confident that they could safely place the baby near where they'd seen the mom.

They set the fawn in dappled light, facing the forest where the mother was last seen.

As instructed, they stayed away from the area all day. At dusk they decided to check on the baby, and it was gone.

About 100' away was the doe, lying calmly in the grass - a good sign that the fawn had reunited with its mother.




Then, three days later, while WES responders were handling a fawn emergency in Boulder Creek, Todd Stosuy with the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter responded to a report of a fawn stuck in a large, cement-lined trough. 

The fawn was a week old, according to staff at the hospital's education center. They'd been keeping track of doe and her baby from the second floor of their building, which overlooks the wooded parcel.


Todd was on scene in minutes. 

The fawn was very mobile, running from end to end, trying to leap out of the pit. Don Derkx, Safety Officer for the hospital, jumped in to help herd the terrified baby deer to one end of the enclosure. As he neared, the fawn dropped. Don used a blanket to cover it and then lifted it to safety. 

The fawn was immediately transported to Native Animal Rescue (NAR) where it was examined for any injuries and found to be in good shape, which meant, if at all possible, it should be reunited with its mother.

Whenever possible, wild babies should be raised by wild parents. The process of reuniting and wild-fostering (fostering a baby into an unrelated family unit) can be a painstaking process, but well worth it in the end.

That evening, just before sunset, WES responders Duane Titus, Rebecca Dmytryk, and Jessica Reyes returned to the location with the fawn and used sounds to draw the mother into view. 

They first tried calling from inside the wooded lot where the fawn was rescued, but there was no sign of the doe. They walked the service road to a grassy area and a deer trail leading into oak woodland. They tried calling, again, and again.

Finally, after about 15 minutes, the doe appeared from the brush. She stood motionless in tall grass. Anxious, and tentative. Ready to bolt away. 

The team brought the baby into view, carrying it up the path to the deer trail. Its bleating drew the doe's attention and she watched as the baby was placed in the grass.

As soon as its hooves touched ground, the fawn shot away - and the doe took off in the opposite direction. 

While it was not the reunion they'd hoped for, the team left feeling pretty confident the doe "connected" with the fawn and would retrieve it after dark.

The doe will not approach her baby if a predator is nearby, in fact, they instinctively stay away from their young except to nurse, so as not to draw the attention of predators.

Alone in the grass is normal for a fawn. A newborn fawn gives off very little scent and its spotty, mottled coat blends in with the environment. If it is still, it will not be seen.

The next day, Jessica returned to the site. She observed a doe on the woodland trail where the fawn had been placed. There was no sign of the fawn, and the doe had not been seen on the service road or the PG&E property. A good sign that the reunion was a success. 

Unfortunately, the fawn was not marked for identification purposes. If you'd like to add a pack of non-toxic all-weather livestock markers to our WES responders' supplies, visit our Amazon Wish List, HERE.

For more on the fawn rescued in Boulder Creek, click HERE.




Apr 27, 2014

Confused cormorant

Friday's rains caused a Brandt's cormorant to make a terrible error. During the night, the aquatic bird landed on wet pavement in a Hollister neighborhood, mistaking the reflective surface for a body of water. 

Cormorants have relatively small wings and cannot take flight from a standstill - they need a "runway" of water to get the speed needed to lift off. It was stranded.

Saturday morning, WES received a call from a resident who saw the bird walking down the street, but they lost sight of it before we could get a volunteer responder on scene.

This afternoon, the bird was spotted again, not far from the original location.

Deanna was on scene within minutes and found the bird enjoying a dip in a child's pool. 





She collected the animal and performed a quick exam before placing it into a carrier. The bird appeared healthy - there were no injuries.

Deanna drove the bird to the nearest body of water and released it.




Apr 26, 2014

Walk for WES a success!






Deanna Barth, WES volunteer, Lead Responder, Board member and longtime supporter, went out of her way today - literally, to raise funds for our organization. 

Not only did she make the time to create an amazing educational display about trash and discarded fishing line and its impact on wildlife, but she entered the Summit for the Planet walk-a-thon and trekked a total of 5 kilometers, raising over $500.00 for WES!

Next year, she says she'll find someone to man the display table so she can keep walking.


A HUGE THANK YOU TO DEANNA!!!

AND MANY THANKS TO THOSE 
WHO SUPPORTED HER WALK!

Apr 22, 2014

Rough start for a newborn fawn

By Rebecca Dmytryk

This is a continuation of a fawn's story that began HERE, where a newborn fawn was found crossing a road, trying to keep up with its mother...

This morning, we received a call from a resident of Boulder Creek. He said he was in his backyard photographing a fawn on his hillside when it stumbled and disappeared into a hole behind a retaining wall. 

I asked him to email a photograph. He emailed a picture of a really small opening in the dirt - maybe the width of my palm.




Right away, I'm thinking, no way... 

He was so positive, though... 

I asked (before we drove 45 miles) if he wouldn't mind taking a picture inside the hole. Show me the spots.

The image on the left is what he sent. 

Sure enough - there's a fawn in the hole.

Duane loaded special equipment into the rescue truck - rope, shovels, a chain saw - and we headed for Boulder Creek.







After considering various ways of lifting the fawn up and out, the homeowner offered that we saw a hole in the retaining wall.

Before cutting through the wall, we wanted to be sure to keep the fawn safe, so we placed a shovel on one end and a rubber mat on the other to keep it confined to a small area. 

Check out the video.






When you think about it, it's really amazing that the homeowner happened to be watching the fawn when it fell. Otherwise, no one would ever have known it was in there - ever!




The fawn appeared to be in good condition so we decided to attempt to reunite it with its mother.

We carried the fawn up the hillside where the doe was last seen. 

Cries from her baby brought her out from hiding.  

The reunion was a complete success - by the book - perfect... until the fawn started circling.









Three days earlier, when Nicole called about the fawn crossing the road in front of her house, she mentioned that it circled a few times, like it was looking for its mom, and then laid down. I thought of how a dog will sometimes circle before it lies. 

I asked Nicole to send me the video her husband had taken, but she wasn't able to send it until the following day, which was too late...




Now, because these reports were from two different addresses in Boulder Creek, I thought we might have two fawns exhibiting this, almost neurological disorder, until I checked my records. The addresses were only a few houses apart - this was the same fawn from the 19th.

Poor, poor little one. 

We did not believe its condition was trauma-related but either congenital, a deficiency, or disease-related. 

It would not survive if left with its mother, so we made the decision to retrieve it.

Duane backed me up as I climbed the hill. What a horrible feeling, taking the baby from its mom - separating them - again.

The doe backed off as I approached. The fawn cried as I scooped it into my arms and the doe advanced. Duane held her off and slowly retreated downhill.

We transported the fawn to Native Animal Rescue for evaluation and treatment.


UPDATE: 4-30-14 

Initial results indicate the fawn is blind. Native Animal Rescue's Deer Team is treating its condition, hoping, somehow its sight returns.

Meanwhile, the doe remains on the hill, waiting for her baby. This is a perfect situation where we could take a healthy fawn that's lost its mother and wild-foster it with this very good mom.

Stay tuned!




Apr 21, 2014

Bushtit re-nesting


A bushtit nest came down with the limb of a tree that was being pruned. Inside was an older, feathered baby bushtit and, oddly, 4 developing eggs. The chick  appeared healthy and was vocalizing, but the eggs did not survive the fall. 

WES responders were on scene quickly. They sewed up a hole in the base of the nest and attached it back where it had been. All the while, the parents were watching.

Once the nest was securely in place, the adult birds came to investigate. 

At first, they reacted to some of their own feathers protruding from the nest where it had been torn. This seemed very upsetting to them. A note for those who re-nest wild birds!

After removing the feathers, they responded to the chick's vocalization and within seconds an adult arrived with a mouth full of insects.



It wasn't long before an adult was observed entering the nest. Success!

Check out the video of the re-nesting:





UPDATE: 

The adults were seen caring for their chick while constructing a new nest, right next to the old one. We're told the chick fledged successfully!



In memoriam of a wild life lost

By Rebecca Dmytryk



I am still not sure about what to say and how to say it, but a wild life was taken... in a grizzly manner... out of fear, out of ignorance, out of... I don't know what. 

I am not sure what, really, if anything, can be done to prevent this type of thing from happening again... I just feel like this cat's story - the end of his life, must be told... at the very least.

On April 19th at about 10:30 AM, I received a voice message from a local wildlife rehabilitator who had gotten a call from a woman in Santa Cruz. The message indicated the woman had a bobcat trapped in a confined space - not a trap - and that she was intending to kill it if she couldn't get help.

I called both of the phone numbers I was given - numerous times, until finally someone answered. 

By then, it was too late. The animal had been killed. Stabbed with a pitchfork, they said.

After taking the report of the incident and collecting the address so the body could be recovered, I asked the person to make sure the animal had expired.

Minutes later, I received a call back with word that the animal was still alive.

I was on scene quickly. 

The landowners were very, very pleasant. The woman who had attempted to kill the animal was, surprisingly, remorseful - very upset by what had happened.

From the driveway, the couple escorted me down a few steps to a large fully-enclosed vegetable garden that overlooked a small orchard, paddock and vineyard. It was a lovely piece of property nestled in the wild hills above Soquel. 

They pointed out the cat's body. Upside down, sandwiched tightly between two layers of fencing material. Two pitchforks protruding. It was obvious the cat was attacked from the outside of the enclosure while pinned.



The adult male bobcat was able to move his front limbs, hiss, snarl... both nictitating membranes were exposed - perhaps from trauma to the head. There was not a lot of blood, but the cat was seriously injured.

WES does not yet have a field euthanasia kit, yet. Even if I had the means, I am not sure I would have put the animal out of its misery. The cat had life left, he had fight, and we owed it to him to try and mend his body. I felt it was worth a try even though he was in bad shape.

I grabbed my gloves, a net, towel and Fiskars. I pulled away the pitchforks - the tines were caught in the wire mesh.

The cat was panting. Cats overheat quickly. Hyperthermia is a life-threatening condition, and it can come on very quickly, so, while I wanted to get the animal out of the fence, I knew doing so would impose more stress on the animal and could raise its body temperature even higher. I needed to take the time to try and cool him.

I took one of the garden hoses and wet his underside - his groin, belly and paws. In wetting him down I could also assess his reflexes. He was able to swat with his front paws, but there was little movement in his rear legs.

After a minute or so with the water, I went to the outside of the enclosure and began cutting away at the wire. I used a towel to cover his head and distract him. As I laid open the fence, his back end was limp. I was able to grab hold of his rear legs and maneuver his body into a net and into a carrier. 

There, in the plastic crate, the cat lay on its side... breathing but nearly unconscious. I took the hose and wet the bottom of the crate and his back paws. There was movement - he was able to move both rear legs!


WARNING: THIS VIDEO MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS




The trip to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley was quick. There, technicians lightly anesthetized the bobcat to examine him. Unfortunately, the cat expired on the table.

A necropsy revealed severe bruising on the animal's head and punctures to the left side of the cat's neck and shoulder. The cat's stomach contained the remains of a domestic duck - the reason the animal was drawn to the garden and likely the rationale behind the brutal attack.

It is not fair to have loose ducks and chickens and then be angry that a predator kills and eats one. That's like scattering $20.00 bills around a city block and then getting mad that people are walking away with your cash.

I believe we must have clearer rules of engagement when it comes to people protecting their pets and livestock from wildlife. Keepers should be required to show use of suitable protective measures before they can lawfully kill an otherwise healthy wild animal.

This was probably the most gruesome rescue I've ever performed. Not because of the animal's suffering so much as the human condition that caused it.



Apr 18, 2014

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya. Mobile vets rushed to aid Siena, an 11-year old Marsh Pride lioness of the Masai Mara Nature Reserve. She had been gored by a male buffalo and suffered life-threatening injuries. 

The David Sheldrake Wildlife Trust (DSWT) immediately deployed Kenyan Wildlife Service veterinarian Dr. Njoroge. It took nearly two hours to clean and stitch up the gaping wound. Check out the incredible video below, or HERE.




Representatives from the DSWT have been monitoring Siena's progress since the April 4th surgery. While there were a few complications from infection and the wound opening up, reports from the Mara Vet Team indicate the injury is healing as it should.

The lioness appears to be walking strongly, suckling her cubs and, for now, experts believe there's no need for further intervention.

Get a feel for what their rescue teams encounter - check out the David Sheldrake Wildlife Trust's Mobile Vet Units Monthly Report from March 2014, HERE.


Support their efforts, HERE.

Apr 14, 2014

A mallard and her brood...


In addition to overseeing Wildlife Emergency Services (WES) as its chief officer, Rebecca Dmytryk runs a company called Humane Wildlife Control with her husband Duane Titus. 

On April 1st, they received a call regarding a duck that was behaving aggressively at a very busy Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Freedom, CA.


They went to check it out and found a female mallard duck nesting in a large planter at the entrance to the bank.

Wild birds and their nests are federally protected. It would be a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to disturb the duck or destroy her nest.

Dmytryk has a special permit that allows her to capture and relocate waterfowl, but only under certain circumstances - when the birds are in immediate danger or pose an immediate threat to public health and safety (like traffic accidents).









This particular hen posed no real threat to the public, but people would probably disturb her if nothing was done to protect the site.

Rebecca and Duane secured bamboo reed fencing around one side of the nest, and posted a sign warning people to stay away. 

They asked the bank manager to keep an eye out and to call when the ducklings hatched.



Check out the video:




It takes about two weeks for a hen to lay a clutch of eggs - one every day or so. During the egg-laying stage, the drake watches over the hen and guards their territory. 

Once the last egg is laid, the hen begins incubating the eggs - a process that takes about 28 days. She remains on the nest except for brief periods to stretch and eat. 

The male stays nearby for a short while before flying off to molt. Interestingly, it's these newly-unattached males with no "jobs" that are often seen ganging up on females until their aggressiveness passes.

Once hatched, ducklings remain in the nest for about 10 to 24 hours - until the hen decides it's time to lead them to water - which can sometimes be miles away. This journey is extremely perilous, especially in an urban environment.


APRIL 14TH

Today, WES received a call from the bank that the ducklings had hatched and were still in the nest. 

Duane and Rebecca responded and found the hen quietly resting with her new babies. 

While normally it's best to not intervene, except to maybe shepherd a duck-family across a busy intersection, in this case, the ducklings would be in great danger and could potentially cause a traffic accident. If possible, they should be relocated to a safer place nearby.

Capturing a flighted mallard, though, is a real challenge. They are strong birds with the ability to fly straight up. 

The team talked through various capture strategies before testing the simplest and quietest approach.

Hidden from direct view, Duane lifted the bamboo fencing just enough to allow Rebecca to get her arms underneath. Mimicking a snake - something relatively small that the hen could fend off, Rebecca slipped one hand under the blind. The hen reacted immediately - hissing and striking with her bill! Rebecca kept the hen occupied with her right hand - retreating and then tentatively advancing, until she had her left hand poised and ready. 

In one swift move, Rebecca grabbed the hen's midsection - like a football - keeping the bird's powerful wings tucked as she squirmed to get free. 

Once released inside a small animal carrier, the hen charged the door, bouncing off the grate.

Meanwhile, Duane began collecting the ducklings, setting them inside a separate carrier. 

During transport the crates were positioned so the hen could see her babies. 

Check out the video:





Apr 10, 2014

Reprieve



This week WES received a call about a trapped mother opossum. She was being blamed for getting inside a chicken coop and killing chickens, even though it could have been raccoons.

It was not a legal "take" - the homeowner did not know there were regulations he had to follow in order to trap "nuisance" wildlife, and, ultimately, he did not want to see it killed - he just didn't want to lose any more chickens.

The long-term solution, then, is to build a better chicken coop - one that not only keeps livestock contained but keeps predators out.


Once on scene, WES responders removed the opossum from the trap and into an animal crate, then spent some time with the homeowner, going over some ways to predator-proof his pens.

As for the opossum, she received a nutritious meal and was released later that night, nearby.

Apr 9, 2014

Before and After Wolves

See how the presence of wolves, in their native habitat, improve the environment - even the rivers. Please check out SustainableMan.org for more inspiring videos.




Apr 7, 2014

Injured bobcat rescue



This morning, we received a call from a security guard at the Diageo Chateau & Estate winery located near Paicines, CA. Workers had just observed an adult bobcat limping across the highway that runs through the property. It was last seen lying in tall grass near a row of settling ponds. 

Duane and Rebecca responded quickly, but when they arrived, the cat was gone. 

The two split up and scoured the area, walking the perimeter of the ponds and using binoculars to scan the fields. Nothing.

They decided to expand their search to an area beyond the ponds. 

As they were driving towards the open field, they spotted movement in a shaded area - it was the bobcat, walking unsteadily in their direction, wobbling, with its left leg held awkwardly.

They slowly backed up the truck out of the cat's vision in order to plan their next move.

Planning is one of the most critical steps in wildlife capture, as it is in the planning that responders, together, discuss potential risks.


WES responders are trained to think through capture plans using something called the Operational Risk Management (ORM) process - click HERE to see how it's used in the Coast Guard. 

Through the 7-stage ORM process, rescuers identify potential risks and the options they have to heighten safety.

Not knowing, for sure, how mobile the cat would be when pursued, an open gate at one corner of the field was cause for concern. The team decided to try and drive past the cat to cut off that potential exit.

They approached the spot where they'd last seen the cat. It had moved a few yards and was drinking from a puddle of water. It didn't seem to notice the truck as it rolled by.

Once out of sight, the two grabbed their nets and made their advance to the cat's last location, using the landscape to hide their approach. 

All of a sudden, the bobcat appeared from behind a mound - it was headed back toward the shade - directly toward Duane and Rebecca. All three stopped in their tracks - motionless. 

Duane was closest and would be the one to make the first attempt. His heart was racing but he was waiting for the cat to turn its stare before lunging. If not, he'd make the first move as he'd have an advantage - action beats reaction, every time. 

The cat started to turn away and move. He netted it with a large hoop net with a deep sock. The two worked together to contain the cat in the net, then transfer it into an animal carrier. Check out the rescue video:



The bobcat was rushed to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley (WCSV) in San Jose where it would receive a thorough examination.




Image courtesy of WCSV.

The adult male bobcat was severely emaciated, weighing only 8 pounds, and radiographs revealed a severe fracture of his left hip. 

The bobcat was weak, but stood a chance.

Adobe Animal Hospital was contacted for a second opinion. After reviewing the digital radiographs, they believed they could repair the hip if they could get the cat stabilized enough for surgery. 

The bobcat was immediately transferred to Adobe where it would receive intensive care and possibly a blood transfusion.





UPDATE 4-8-14: Sadly, the bobcat was too weak and could not be stabilized - its body started to shut down. It was allowed to go in a deep sleep.








Apr 5, 2014

In the wake of the Texas City Y Oil Spill

By Rebecca Dmytryk


We are calling for change. Sign the petition, HERE.




This quote in the Texas Tribune by a US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) representative did it...


"Nine times out of ten, it's not worth capturing a bird,"

I called her - Nancy Brown, to ask her about the statement. 

While she was quick to say it was taken out of context, her clarification was no better, explaining that birds that are oiled and still able to fly are incredibly difficult to catch and capture attempts only increase stress on them, and they are already in a depleted state due to migration, and because the objective is to not add further stress, nine times out of ten it's better not to pursue a bird like that.

Really?

Wow. 

She went on to say that they are getting a lot of reports of oiled birds but "there's no chance of catching" them because they are still flighted.

I told her that there are various techniques for capturing flighted birds, and that there are world leaders in oiled wildlife recovery that have the skills to capture these birds,... and then I asked why not one of them had been invited to help with the recovery efforts?

She asked me if I was selling her something.

No!

I went on to tell her about International Bird Rescue, Tri-State Bird Rescue, and their local Texas Wildlife Center, and that it seemed odd that these experts weren't advising on recovery efforts or, at the very least, in the field helping locate and catch oiled animals?

She told me the experts were there. That they have the finest people in the agency on the ground - people who know the topography, the shoreline, the currents, the tides and weather patterns... 

Indeed, use of local resources is very important, but, what's missing, I repeated, are the experts in oiled wildlife capture to work hand in hand with the locals...

Again, she asked if I was selling her something or have a vested interest.

WTF?

NO!!! I am not selling anything, but, I do have an interest in the resources you're charged with protecting - that's my interest!!!

Maybe I should have turned the table on her and asked what her interest was - what does the US Fish and Wildlife Service have to gain? 

Could the feds be profiting from oil spill response? 

Is that why they squeezed us out of the field during the Deepwater Horizon? How much did FWS make off the Gulf Oil Spill? Anyone? Anyone?

(Rachel Maddow - are you reading this?)

The conversation ended with her telling me to submit my concerns and suggestions online at this address, HERE, which I did. Feel free to send in yours.

Afterwards, I did some more digging. I tried to make sense of the FWS role in oil spill response, HERE. It seems they take direction from a National Contingency Plan, but also from a ten-year-old document Best Practices for Migratory Bird Care During Oil Spill Response.

This document was developed after the Exxon Valdez oil spill (1989) when oil companies were being misled by people claiming to be oiled wildlife experts. Agencies needed a way to evaluate responders, so, the two leading organizations - International Bird Rescue and Tri-State collaborated on this document with the FWS. 

There is only so much guidance a document like this can provide - hands-on involvement by experts is essential,... but here's the problem - here's the conundrum: no one else knows that but the experts.

At the start of the Texas City Y oil spill, the FWS assumed the lead and took control of wildlife operations. Because there is no oiled wildlife capture expert on scene to advise, decisions are being made from an inexperienced point of view. 

That's why, I guess, they think it's okay to send moderately experienced teams into the field and not utilize experts. They don't see the need. They don't see the need, because they don't know any better,... 

...and who is going to question them? Who is going to question a federal agency in charge of wildlife? Most people will just assume they know what they are doing...

It feels like our hands are tied... 

What can be done?

The People need to demand change. The FWS is a trustee agency - it is charged with protecting our wildlife. We must demand that they strengthen oil spill contingency plans to require at least one representative from a leading oiled wildlife response organization - namely International Bird Rescue, Tri-State, or Texas Wildlife Center, be assigned a position in the Wildlife Branch during any major oil spill in the United States.

Add your voice - demand that experts be utilized on major oil spill, HERE.











Apr 4, 2014

Hollister Hawk

This morning, the Hollister Animal Shelter transferred a call to us about a hawk. According to the RP, the hawk was first observed in their backyard the night before. It was still there this morning, which prompted them to reach out for assistance.



Responders arrived quickly and found what appeared to be a young red-tailed hawk with a federal band on its leg. The metal band will help authorities trace the bird's history. It could be a falconer's bird that escaped. 

Its condition was suspect. The bird was thin and weak and covered in chewing lice, which could account for some of the damaged feathers. However, the tips of its tails feathers were worn and its band was caked in what appeared to be fecal material. Authorities were alerted and the bird was transported to a local wildlife hospital for care.






Here's video of the rescue: