A red-shouldered hawk that was shot with a BB gun and left unable to fly has been released back into the wild after 10 weeks of rehabilitation, the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA said.
The bird was reportedly found in late July sitting on a picnic table in a San Jose park, wounded and struggling to move. It was taken to the PHS/SPCA’s wildlife intake center in San Jose and later transferred to the organization’s new Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga, where veterinarians discovered a BB lodged in the hawk’s head and signs of lead poisoning.
A X-ray revealed that the hawk had an open wound at the top of her head, swelling around her right eye, and was in very poor condition.
Veterinarians performed the first-ever surgery at the new facility to remove the BB pellet. Although the procedure was successful, the hawk initially lost vision in her right eye, which is a potentially fatal injury for a bird that relies on sharp sight to hunt.
Over two months of treatment and recovery, the hawk’s vision gradually returned to normal. She was then moved to the center’s raptor aviaries, where she regained her strength and flight skills before being released earlier this month in San Jose, the PHS/SPCA said Thursday.
“We are thrilled to report she fully recovered, and her vision returned to normal,” said Colleen Crowley, PHS/SPCA communications manager. “The hawk spent the last few weeks in the Wildlife Care Center raptor aviaries amongst the trees.”
The organization explained that its goal is always to minimize human contact with wildlife and return rehabilitated animals to their natural habitats.
The PHS/SPCA urges the public to report any injured or orphaned wild animals by calling (650) 340-7022.