Animal Spotlight: Red-Shouldered Hawk

This adult red-shouldered hawk was found on the ground on October 31, 2004 in Westlake Village. He was injured and could not fly.

He was brought to the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas for examination and treatment .A physical examination revealed blood in the oral cavity, but no fractured bones. The cause of the injury was unknown, but most likely he was a victim of rat poisoning or he experienced a head trauma (i.e. hit by car).

At the hospital, he was given fluids and started on vitamin K1 treatment. After 2 weeks inside the hospital, he started eating on his own and was placed in an enclosure with other red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks.

He was in rehabilitation at the wildlife center for one month where he regained his strength and flying skills. His agility and endurance increased with time, until he was able to make consecutive flights and catch live prey. He was then ready to be released back into the wild where he was found.

In the afternoon of November 30, the red-shouldered hawk was launched into the air, high up top a hill, where he took off, flapped his wings effortlessly, and glided onto the limb of an oak tree. Thus, beginning his life again.

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