After two months of expert care and rehabilitation, Red-tailed Hawk #25-1778 returned to the wild on August 7.
This Red-tailed Hawk was rescued on May 26 after it was found grounded near downtown Richmond. Upon admission to the Center, veterinary staff discovered that the hawk was a fledgling with a previously healed pelvic fracture. The exact cause of the injury is unknown, though it’s possible the hawk fledged from the nest early and injured itself in the process.
Over the following weeks, the Center’s rehabilitation team provided daily care for the hawk, carefully monitoring the bird’s progress. By mid-June, the hawk began daily flight exercises in a large outdoor enclosure to build its flight strength and stamina. On July 31, the hawk was officially cleared for release!
The Red-tailed Hawk was successfully released at Maymont on Thursday, August 7, in front of a crowd of about 175 people. Director of Outreach Connor said, “It took a moment to take in its surroundings, then took flight out of the crate and landed high up in a tree on its right. It stuck around for a while, giving attendees a great opportunity to watch.”
Stay tuned to see more photos from the release!
