Kind Woman Stops Everything to Rescue a Hawk Injured on the Road
A woman documented her efforts to save an injured hawk she found on the road.
In a TikTok video, the woman revealed that she found the hawk lying in the middle of the road and saw him get run over by other cars. In the video, she came out, saw the hawk lying on the road, and carefully picked him up, taking him to her car.
@its_a_farmily_farm Had a little hawk rescue adventure today He was quite scary after he gathered his composure, but I'm glad he was able to get the help that he needed. I'm also glad that he was the only one injured #birdsofprey#rescue#wildlife#wildliferehab#funnymoments
original sound - It's a Farmily Farm
"I contacted a bunch of rehabs, and I did find one that's able to take him," she explained. "The rehab said to wrap him in a towel lightly." The camera then panned to the hawk, which tried to fly out to escape, and acted "scary" toward her, but she eventually wrapped him up in a towel burrito.
At one point, the woman had to cover up the hawk's face with a towel so he wouldn't panic, and even buckled his seatbelt while she drove him to the rescue. She eventually confirmed in the video that he was dropped off and would be evaluated by the vet team at the rescue.
"Once they give him some time to calm down, they'll do a full assessment," she confirmed. The woman added that she was late in feeding her chickens and other farm animals, but if he needed wing surgery, the rescue would send him to another facility, where they are wildlife rehabbers that can do that surgery."
The internet loved the surprise adventure the woman took to save the hawk, with some users commenting on his reactions while she tried to wrap him up in a burrito.
"Hawks always look so offended by everything and everyone," one commented, while another jokingly said the whole ordeal was just "A new episode of 'Will it swaddle?'"
Another user also joked that the Hawk probably talked about her, saying, "I met a strange lady, she made me nervous." A wildlife rehabilitator even commented, "As a wildlife rehabilitator, thank you for bringing him in."
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How to handle injured wildlife
While it might be instinctive to help an injured animal, the best course of action is to keep the animal in place and call local Animal Control to handle the situation.
According to the Orange County Bird of Prey Center, "the best thing to do is leave it there" and contact the proper authorities since "They have the necessary equipment and knowledge to aid the bird appropriately."
"If handling the bird is necessary, use heavy gloves to avoid injury by its sharp talons and beak," they added. "A towel or blanket temporarily placed over the bird may allow easier handling. Grasp the bird on its sides over properly folded wings. Then place the [bird] into a heavy cardboard box, which should be only slightly larger than the bird itself. "
Related: Bird Sanctuary Finds Surprise Lodged in Red-Tailed Hawk's Cheek During Rescue
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 12:12 PM.