Red Tail Hawks Attack Outside Squirrels

[acpowell]

Hawks must be the spawn of Satan.

Yesterday, a pair of red tail hawks attacked our outside squirrels across the fairway on the golf course. As my husband walked over to shew them away, one dove to attack a squirrel.

This poor little guy tried so hard to get away. Satan #1 swooped down, snatched the squirrel and began to fly off with it in his claws. This all happened a foot in front of my husband. He jumped in to fend off the attack causing the hawk to drop the squirrel for the first time. Satan #1 began to fly away, and when my husband turned around, the squirrel was leaving again in the claws of Satan #2. At that point, I started to run across the golf course, screaming like crazy person for my husband to get the squirrel because the hawk was struggling and flying low with it in his claws. The squirrel was in a ball in shock. Richard jumped in the middle again. The squirrel was dropped again for the second time. Richard told me to grab the squirrel as he continued the fight to shew the hawk away, and the hawk ripped the arm of his shirt and scratched his arm from the shoulder to his elbow.

When the squirrel was dropped a second time, he circled in on the fairway out in the open, so the hawks were both still trying to take him away. I finally caught the squirrel on the base of a tree. I asked Richard what to do and he screamed RUN! As we both ran with the little guy back to our house, the hawks followed us across the course.

I thought the squirrel was not alive because he was limp and barely breathing. We wrapped him in a towel. I held him for about 5 minutes before he leapt out of it to hide under the couch. He managed to give me a nasty bite as we were running inside with him. I had to physically open his jaws to remove his teeth from my finger. Richard was relieved, when I told him the blood covering his fur was from me and not the squirrel.

The good news is that we all survived! He stayed inside last night in a bed of towels. Now, we need a way to get the squirrel to let us check him out to make sure that he is full strength for release. Any ideas on how to get him out from inside of the couch would be great. Also, a method to make these Hawk’s disappear.

We managed to acquire a crowd of neighbors, golfers, and golf course attendants.

The problem is that we live on an island where Environmental Committees rescue malnourished red tail hawks. Therefore, my behavior on the golf course yesterday is frowned upon. There was also a recent write up in our town paper on a pair of nesting red tail hawks that included this statement:

“Harassment or harm of any bird of prey is a crime and is punishable by fines up to $5,000 and 1 year in prison. Please help us to keep these unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future. In all cases, solutions can be easily worked out before work begins but it becomes a much more difficult situation once the work has started. The Town of Kiawah Island is currently maintaining and distributing records of all known bird of prey nests on the island. This list will be updated and distributed in a variety of ways to appropriate entities and individuals. Help us out by letting us know about any nests in your area. Also, notify us if you notice any construction, other work, or harassment of these birds of prey anywhere on the Island. Contact the Town Biologist at 768-9166.”

http://www.kiawahisland.org/uploads/birdpreyarticle.pdf

[Pointy Tale]

Acpowell—Yes, I agree, Hawks must be the spawn of Satan! Oh my goodness, your husband, he should get medical treatment. My heart is racing while reading this, I can actually feel what was happening.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving this squirrel, you are both Angels and Heros to me…
I am not a rehabber, but I know one should be on soon, so hang tight. All I know, WARM, DARK, QUIET, we don’t want to stress him, he has been through enough.

I guess you can get him out with some food, but remember, and this is scared. Ok, I also know that towels are no good, you need fleece or like your husband old t-shirt…
Yes, I am sure lots of people watched and no one helped, it figures.

Don’t worry what other people think about your behavior, you saved a life, a squirrel live that is most important. If someone says something about the attack, say that you and your husband were walking along, and thought your neighbors cat was in the clutches of the hawk, and you were frightened the Hawk lunged at your husband, no one really needs to know that you saw the squirrel first, OK. It makes me so mad that they protect the Hawk and not squirrel, here too, you can get a fine/jail, it was in our paper too, but I can’t remember what it said. This is all not important, your squirrel now is.

WARM…DARK…QUIET…No Towel, Fleece or T-shirt only, OK. Let’s let him relax first. Hang tight for a minute, let me see if someone is on, OK?

[TinyPaws]

Hooray for you and your husband!!!!!!! :thumbsup

Those were pretty bold birds....

I was reading your post my heart racing but then I read the finale and was thrilled that things ended great.......you're wound is a wound of victory...

[acpowell]

The squirrel is still resting. Several months ago, Mr. Squirrel and Laz found a way to get into the arms of the couch, so we stuffed them with fabric in an attempt to keep them out. This is where our little guy is hiding. He has not been out since yesterday, but I do hear him shuffling on occasion. I hope that he is comfortable. I placed water and snacks under the couch for him. He has not eaten yet, although Ms. Laz decided to take advantage of his peanut butter and almonds. Richard caught her this morning under the couch eating it all.

Thank you all for responding. I hate to be dramatic. I deal with these hawks at least once per month, but the events of yesterday were devastating. I wonder if I should cease their feedings because it brings them here in groups, which puts them in harms way.

Another thing is that the squirrel was completely soaked when I caught him. Did the hawk lick him?

[4skwerlz]

What an awful experience. You guys must be fast as lightening, as well as brave, to have done that.:thumbsup The hawks have nestlings to feed now, and they're pretty aggressive.

I agree that when you attract squirrels, you end up attracting hawks too. (I wish every creature could be vegetarian, like me....) After I saw a squirrel get taken right in my backyard, I planted another tree to cover the ONE open area that remained in my backyard, so no more swooping down. Planting lots of cover for your fuzzers is about all you can do.

Interesting the squirrel was wet. Perhaps it was sweat from the stress and exertions. Poor little guy.