Red-tailed Hawk

This red-tailed hawk was hit by a vehicle and got stuck in the grill. Fortunately, a WDFW law enforcement officer was able to rescue the bird and safely transport him to PAWS. Though the hawk was unable to fly and was bleeding from his mouth on intake, he was alert. We found after examinations that the bird had extensive bruising around the spine but surprisingly no orthopedic issues. The adult hawk received pain medication and supportive care for the first week. After 10 days in care, we noticed he could perform short flights. He eventually made a full recovery and was released back to his territory. A few minutes after the release, a second adult red-tailed hawk flew in and the two started calling back and forth. They were last spotted in neighboring trees.