A large hawk made a surprising 200-mile trek, only to end up wedged in the front grill of a car in Northern California. This unusual situation came to light when a driver, stopping for gas, noticed the bird trapped in his vehicle.
On Sunday, the Weed Police Department received a call about this incident at a Chevron station. The driver was clearly alarmed, and the dispatcher initially thought it might just be a sparrow. However, upon hearing that it was, in fact, an eagle, the dispatcher decided to send an officer for a proper rescue.
When authorities arrived, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife managed to extract the juvenile red-tailed hawk from the grill, thankfully finding its wings were intact.
A witness at the gas station recalled the scene, expressing concern as she approached the car. “I thought the worst,” Wendy Wertenberger said, but she was surprised to find the hawk calm and trusting. The rescuers carefully removed the bird from the car, ensuring it was treated with care.
The hawk was reported to have been hit at the Interstate 5 and 505 interchange near Dunnigan, subsequently trapped in the car for nearly three hours on its unexpected journey to the small town.
Wertenberger added that, initially, she feared the hawk might not survive; however, it was blinking and observing its surroundings, indicating it was still alive.
Currently, the young hawk is receiving treatment at a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Remarkably, despite the ordeal, officials noted that there were no broken bones, just some minor swelling from the collision. The prognosis for the bird appears to be positive.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is providing updates on the situation.
