One day in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, William Ortiz was strolling past a bustling highway when something odd caught his eye.
He spotted a peculiar creature sprawled out in the road, clearly in need of assistance. Yet, despite the urgency, cars zoomed past, ignoring the plight entirely.
William may not have known what kind of animal it was, but his instincts kicked in right away—he decided to stop and lend a hand. Despite the rush of vehicles from both directions, he carefully made his way over to the spot where the creature lay.
When William finally reached the scene, his heart sank at what he witnessed. Without a moment of hesitation, he picked up his phone to call for help.
An Awful Predicament
Right in front of him, a young red-tailed hawk was lying injured, completely immobilized in the middle of that chaotic road.
It appeared that the bird had been hit by a car, abandoned by the driver who left without glancing back. Luckily, William was there just when he was needed the most, and he promptly contacted the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center for rescue.
Given that the center was also in Lancaster, the rescuers arrived quickly, bringing the hawk to safety.
On seeing his injuries, both the rescuers and the wildlife rehabilitators felt deeply moved by the bird’s plight.
“I just can’t begin to imagine the suffering that bird endured,” remarked wildlife rehabilitator Tracie Young to The Dodo.
As described in an RRWC Facebook post, the poor hawk had both eyes shut, could barely stand, had torticollis, and suffered severe head trauma. The condition was so critical, they doubted he would make it through.
Yet, after 72 hours of intense care, something incredible happened – the hawk managed to open his eyes and stand on his own. As his condition improved, so did the cheers of the rescuers who had high hopes for his recovery.
Just hours ago, his fate seemed grim; now he was gearing up for the next phase of his recovery journey that would eventually return him to his home in the wild.
Pathway to Liberation
Once they deemed the hawk fit to proceed, Young, from the wildlife center, got in touch with an expert falconer to continue his rehabilitation.
“Falconers dedicate plenty of time to train their birds, nurturing a bond and building trust. They guide the bird to respond to commands, such as returning to a glove or perch, while also focusing on physical conditioning and refining its hunting skills through simulated sessions,” RRWC explained in a Facebook post.
This approach would enable the hawk to not only recover fully but also acquire essential skills to thrive once back in his natural habitat. As per The Dodo’s report, this process is anticipated to extend until spring, when he will finally return to the wild.
Every step was proceeding smoothly, and the hawk was in excellent spirits. RRWC even shared a video showcasing the hawk’s remarkable improvement from initial treatment to current progress.
Equipped with renewed strength, his return to the skies is just a matter of time.
In conclusion, this story ends on a positive note, where a life was saved thanks to William’s compassion and action in a moment others overlooked.
Given that many of these magnificent birds don’t make it to their first birthday, this particular rescue becomes all the more significant.
