Red Tailed Hawk Rescued From Car Grille In Waukesha

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI — Animal rescue workers are calling it a miracle: A majestic red-tailed hawk hit by a truck at more than 70 miles per hour got stuck in the truck's grille — and survived.

According to a FOX 6 report, Eric Broom was driving on Highway 16 in Waukesha on his way to a job interview when he saw a hawk swooping down near his truck.

According to reports, from the Wildlife In Need Center, the bird was hit on Highway 16 at 70 miles per hour, but Broom did not know he hit it. He drove to work and a co-worker saw it sticking out of the grille of his truck.

When Broom went to the front of his vehicle, he said he was amazed at what he found: An adult male red-tailed hawk lodged in his front grille. They found that the hawk was embedded tail-first in the grille with only the head and two wings exposed.

Mark Hess of the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha drove to the rescue after they received a call that a red-tailed hawk was found stuck in a grille of a vehicle.

Hess was able to cut the grille apart to safely extract the hawk. He said the hawk was pretty calm during the ordeal, most likely because it was in shock.

How to Help

• The Wildlife In Need Center provides critical care for animals in need. Here's how to help that organization, and how to buy items on their wish list.
• Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha assists more than 8,000 animals in Waukesha County. Here's how to donate to that organization.

The adult male red-tailed Hawk was brought to the Wildlife In Need Center, and during the initial exam staff members were surprised to find he had no fractured bones. However, he did suffer spinal bruising and some internal trauma, which was expected. Animal care experts at the center say the hawk is getting pain medication and is resting comfortably after his traumatic day.

Image Via Wildlife In Need Center