Hawk spotted in Santa Cruz with mouse trap stuck to body

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) A hawk seen in Santa Cruz with a glue trap for mice stuck to its body is at risk of being entangled or unable to fly, according to Wildlife Emergency Services.

"Its face and its wings and right side wing and right side talon were both completely stuck in the trap, so it was completely immobile," said
Terrance "Sol" Campbell, a good samaritan who tried helping the bird.

Rebecca Dmytryk with Wildlife Emergency Services said they received the report of a red shouldered hawk with a glue trap stuck to its shoulder and face Tuesday morning near Fern Street in Santa Cruz.

Dmytryk said the hawk can fly, but the trap is still stuck to it. Wildlife Emergency Services is asking for the community's help finding the bird because its ability hunt and thermal regulate is compromised by the trap.

Getting the bird help is a matter of life and death, according to Dmytryk. She said it may only have hours to live if it is not caught.

"(The bird) is probably within two to four blocks of Fern Street in Santa Cruz," she said. "People should not be using glue traps really anyway, but they shouldn't be using glue traps outside ever."

For Campbell, he is hoping the best for what he calls a "sacred bird."

"Being a native person, I knew this was a predator bird. I knew it was special. There aren't many of its kind," said Campbell.

If you see the hawk, you are asked to report it to rebecca@wildlifeservices.org with the time and exact location where it was seen.