Overweight Hawk Loses Ability to Fly After Eating Chickens in Virginia
The 910-gram red-shouldered hawk was found helpless in a garage and taken to the Virginia Wildlife Centre, where examiners found no injury or illness.
An overweight red-shouldered hawk in Virginia couldn’t fly after weeks of eating free-roaming chickens, and was found helpless in a garage.
An adult female red-shouldered hawk in Virginia, US, became so overweight that it lost the ability to fly, according to reports. It was found helpless inside a garage and taken to the Virginia Wildlife Centre.
What Experts Found
The hawk weighed 910 grams, and its body fat was so thick that its breastbone could no longer be felt.
Experts examined its bones, eyes, head and body and found no signs of injury or illness.
How It Happened
The hawk had been hunting free-roaming chickens in nearby areas and then flying to trees to sleep after eating. This routine continued for several weeks, and its weight rose until it could no longer fly.
Reaction and Warning
The story went viral on social media, with some users surprised by the weight and others suggesting ways to protect chickens from birds of prey. Wildlife experts said the hawk could have been killed by a larger predator if it had not been found, because it could not fly to escape or defend itself.
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