Hawk Rescued By Bel Air Police After 'Short Chase,' Officials Say

BEL AIR, MD — Officers in Bel Air rescued an injured hawk over the weekend. Police said the bird will be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation refuge for treatment.

The Cooper's hawk, a bird of prey that is known for being a stealthy hunter, did not immediately surrender when officers came on the scene.

"A short chase ensued, and the injured hawk was successfully and safely captured," the Bel Air Police Department said in a statement.

Officer Hunt, Officer Maldonado and Corporal McComas helped bring the animal into the care of law enforcement.

Afterward, authorities turned over the wounded bird to Harford County Animal Control, which is arranging for the creature to be placed in a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

It is not unusual for Cooper's hawks to be injured, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. When the department conducted a survey of Cooper's hawks in the state, it found that 23 percent of those it examined had chest fractures that had healed.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources attributed the injuries to the bird's "rather dangerous lifestyle" of "dashing through vegetation to catch birds."

The Cooper's hawk — also known as the striker — has a tendency to hide in dense vegetation or forest cover before swooping in and attacking its prey.

Photos of the Cooper's hawk rescued on Sunday, Dec. 30, courtesy of the Bel Air Police Department.