Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Red-shouldered Hawk

Why are hawks so often hit by vehicles?

Photos / Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

This Red-shouldered Hawk was admitted last week due to a vehicle collision. This hawk had a guarded prognosis on intake due to the severity of head and lung trauma.

This bird improved over the first few hours with supplemental oxygen and pain medications, but was quiet for a few days after admission. Over time, this patient’s breathing improved as did the head trauma.

Now, after a week in care, this patient has been moved to an outdoor enclosure. Though able to fly, there are still some coordination and endurance issues.

We are hopeful that this hawk will recover fully and be released!

We are only a couple of weeks into January, yet we have already admitted six raptors for confirmed vehicle collisions this year.

Why does this happen so often? And how can you help?

We all know that littering is bad. But it may surprise you that biodegradable items like banana peels, apple cores, and other food waste are especially dangerous to wildlife! Often, people will toss these items out of their car window thinking they are harmless and will biodegrade quickly. In reality, the food scraps attract prey species to the roads, and then predators, like hawks, follow.

Don’t give these birds of prey more of a reason to frequent roadways. Help wildlife by disposing of your trash properly!

Looking for an easy way to help native wildlife? Become a monthly BRWC donor! For as little as $5/month, you can provide year-round, sustainable support that helps us fulfill our mission.