Injured hawk

[Dempsy's Mom]

Yesterday morning Dempsy and I were spraying weeds again with the Gator.  On our way back home there was a hawk in the middle of the gravel road.  "Keep going mom, he'll fly away!", Demps said.  But the hawk didn't fly.  He waddled over to the side of the road.  "Oh.  Demps, I think the hawk is hurt.  Let's help him."  We had a towel that we used to wipe off the morning dew from the seat.  Dempsy watched as I approached the little hawk.  I gently laid the towel over him.  He was quite calm.  Gathered him up and took him home with us.  Once home, we took  him inside - where I put on some leather gloves and examined him.  His claws were powerful and his bite strong.  He had a broken wing right at the elbow.  It was healed.  Looked up wildlife rescues on the internet - nothing in SD.  So I decided to try the local zoo.  Yes, they would take him.   

Dempsy and I introduced him to Elsie.  I put him in the outside dog kennel for the night.  He ate a sardine and later some steak.  This morning he went to his forever home at the Watertown Zoo.  The man said he would never fly again, but he will live out his life at the zoo.

Edited August 4, 2016 by Dempsy's Mom
accidentally posted before finished

[Dempsy's Mom]

In the first picture Dempsy is shutting his eyes - "Ooo, he is to scary to look at!"

[Kathryn]

You, Demps and Elsie live exciting lives, Lori...

How do you imagine the hawk managed to live so long without flying? You said the break had healed so he must have been injured a while ago, right?

What kind of hawk was he? And are we assuming it was a he, or do you know for sure?

[pkcrossley]

nice work!

[Dempsy's Mom]

I meant to ask the zoo keeper what kind he thought he was, but it slipped my mind.  He did say that the hawk was thin and that he was happy that I had him eating, so the hawk must of had a hard time finding food since he lost his flight.  He was my first hawk, but he was pleasant to work with and he seemed like he was young.  I will have to go see him at the zoo.   Happy our paths crossed.  

[Dempsy's Mom]

I don't know how exciting our lives are, but we do have our share of new friends.  A couple of weeks ago it was this little guy:

He was released by an old trailer house a couple of miles away.

[Sam I Am]

Good one Lori! I had a similar experience with Merlin who couldnt fly. I had to also catch him on the ground and bring him to a raptor centre. Jock would have attacked it and given the size of the talons, I think Jock would have come out of that experience in bad shape!

[Hillscreek]

Great work! Angus would have attacked no matter the size of bird or claws. Demps and Elsie are more experienced with a variety of animals close up. That's wonderful.

[bradl]

Nice work getting that hawk a safe home. 

Our guys seem happy if they find so much as a caterpillar. Love these stories and pix.  

[Lynn in TN]

Ditto what everyone else said. Love the stories. Lori you are awesome.

[Islander]

Wow! Great work rescuing the hawk.

[_whits_]

You should have a show on Animal Planet about all the creatures that find their way to you!

How sweet of you to bring the hawk in and find a home for it. My grandfather raised hawks for the Air Force and my mom spent her entire childhood terrified of them. We used to have a hawk that lived near my parents house, and it kept a close eye on all our dogs. My dad even sent me a news story of a hawk flying off with a Jack Russell Terrier. I hope you get to visit the hawk at his new home. 

That raccoon reminded me of this one: https://www.instagram.com/pumpkintheraccoon/?hl=en

[hheldorfer]

How exciting!  I love hawks and could watch them for hours.  Sometimes it seems they soar on the air currents just for the sheer joy of it.

It was wonderful of you to take care of the hawk and find him (or her) a home.  He (or she) is beautiful!

 

[Dempsy's Mom]

Whits:  That little raccoon was not very friendly like the one in your pictures.  He was a little to old to be handled, but it would be cool to have one that snuggled with the dogs.

 

[AllAboutPetey]

Wow there was a hawk in your kitchen. Great pictures!

[Autumn & Lola]

You always have such fantastic stories, Lori, and you *do* have an exciting life!  When you retire from farming, how about writing a book about your adventures on the farm? I can recommend an editor.

 

[Pepper Bug's Mom]

We have rats...

[hheldorfer]

28 minutes ago, Pepper Bug's Mom said:

We have rats...

A hawk would take care of those.

[LindaMC]

How wonderful you are for saving this hawk and many other animals.  The hawk would most likely have eventually starved to death if you hadn't saved him.  Good job!