Last week, a Good Samaritan in Passaic, New Jersey, stopped short when they noticed a huge wild bird sitting on the sidewalk.
The bird, a red-tailed hawk, refused to fly away, even when the passerby cautiously inched closer.
Clearly, something was wrong.
In need of an expert opinion, the Good Samaritan contacted the City of Passaic Animal Shelter and told them the news. Given that it was after operating hours, officers at the shelter advised the passerby to keep an eye on the bird and call them again first thing in the morning.
The next day, the bird was still there, perched on a pile of garbage. When animal control officer Smith arrived at the scene, his heart broke.
“It was one of those moments that stays with you, seeing something so powerful and wild in such an unfortunate setting,” City of Passaic Animal Shelter supervising animal control officer DeAndre Boatwright told The Dodo.
The hawk was alert, aware and didn’t seem to have any injuries. However, Officer Smith knew that a wild bird wouldn’t stay in a public place overnight unless he was in trouble. Carefully, using thick leather gloves, he moved the hawk into a carrier and brought him to All Humane Animal Rescue for intermediate care.
Eventually, the hawk made his way to The Raptor Trust, a bird rehabilitation center. Vets examined the bird and determined his wing was likely broken, prohibiting him from taking off.
Safe with animal experts and fellow rescue birds, this hawk will be allowed time to recover and eventually released back into the wild.
Boatwright is glad that this beautiful bird is off the street and getting the care he needs.
“Moments like this are incredibly meaningful for my team,” Boatwright said. “We deal with a wide range of calls every day, many of them difficult and emotionally challenging. Being able to help a wild animal like this and knowing it has a real chance to recover and return to the skies reminds us why we do this work.”