Arizona: Officers Help Save a Hawk

ARIZONA -- Recently Officers Mike Buvala and John Scott of the Black Mountain Precinct Neighborhood Enforcement Team were conducting business at the Union Hills Neighborhood Station when they were approached by mechanics working at the shop there.

A hawk had been lounging on the asphalt near the shop for several hours and the group was worried he may be injured or incapacitated in some fashion.

When Officers Buvala and Scott approached, they noticed he was covered in an oily substance that was preventing him from being able to fly. The hawk was understandably skittish, so they stayed near him and made sure to keep other employees and vehicles away from him while they “hatched” a plan to get him much needed help.

The officers called the non-profit organization, Wild at Heart, a rescue, rehabilitation and release center for birds of prey. Wild at Heart sent emergency responder Bob to the scene who was able to deftly approach the bird and establish a rapport with him. Bob took custody of the bird and confirmed he was covered with an oily substance that would need to be cleaned off before the hawk could get back to normal business.

Without this much-needed intervention, the hawk would most likely have been injured or died under these circumstances.

Thanks to a collaboration between these officers and Wild at Heart, our new feathered partner was saved and will soon be clean, healthy and back out in the north Phoenix desert areas going about his regular activities!

(City of Phoenix Police Department - March 10, 2016)