Meridian Removes an Injured Hawk and Takes It to Wildlife Rehab

PARTNER

Garden center of a major retail chain

• The retail chain’s Bossier City, Louisiana, store noticed a Cooper’s hawk had flown into its garden center and refused to leave. This location had partnered with Meridian in the past and had experience with hawks.

OBJECTIVE

The Bird Removal Technician (BRT) noticed the hawk was injured and needed help.

• BRT Aleigh had prior experience with hawks. From the bird’s lethargy, she surmised it was injured or sick.
• Upon closer examination, the BRT found the Cooper’s hawk, a protected species, had an injured leg.

SOLUTION

Meridian and the store worked together to protect the store, the customers, and the hawk.

• BRT Aleigh set up Meridian’s patented Bird-N-Free capture system while the store manager closed access to the garden center to protect customers and also to prevent the bird from flying inside.
• Aleigh knew the net, designed for live capture in the wild, would not further harm the bird.
• After capturing the hawk, Aleigh examined the wound and determined the hawk would not survive without treatment.

RESULTS

The BRT contacted the local wildlife rehabilitation center and transported the hawk there for treatment.

• The BRT took the initiative to call a wildlife rehab center, who agreed to take in the severely injured Cooper’s hawk. Aleigh took the bird there directly from the capture site.
• Meridian was able to remove the bird from the store while demonstrating compassion on behalf of our partner and ourselves.