A backyard rescue captured on body camera became a careful negotiation with a hawk that didn’t seem particularly interested in letting go.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, an elderly Tampa resident called 911 after discovering what appeared to be a red-shouldered hawk trapped inside a screened-in pool enclosure.
The body-cam video shared by HCSO showed the responding deputy moving toward the side of the home, where they found the bird near the enclosure’s edge.
“Hey, baby,” the deputy said as he approached slowly with a long-handled net, then added, “Hi, cutie,” as he eased the hawk into it. The deputy carried the bird out of the screened enclosure and into the grassy yard.
Little did the HCSO know, getting the hawk out of the enclosure was the easy part. Removing it from the net would prove more difficult.
Gentle Persuasion
Embedded media follows; please allow a moment to load.
Cautious of its powerful feet and sharp talons, the deputy used his gloved hand to work the mesh away from the hawk rather than simply tipping the bird from the net. “It’s okay,” he said as the hawk continued gripping while they tried to free it. “You can let go, baby.”
A quick “Ow, ow” followed as the deputy continued working carefully around the bird’s feet. “So you can be free, please,” he said.
Success!
The hawk eventually released its grip, allowing the HCSO officer to pull the net away and give it some room. It stood upright on the grass for a brief moment before flying away.
“There you go,” he said as the encounter came to an end.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, red-shouldered hawks live in Florida year-round and are among the state’s most commonly seen hawks. Key markings include a reddish-brown barred chest, bold black-and-white wing patterning, and a banded tail, all of which were visible on the bird in the video.
With hawks being strictly protected under the state’s federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it’s definitely important to be able to spot a hawk and know when to call in for backup.