Juvenile Ferruginous Hawk In Poor Body Condition

The following story about a ferruginous hawk was submitted by the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah.

This juvenile ferruginous hawk was discovered resting in an active construction site in downtown Salt Lake City in August 2022. Workers teamed up to secure transportation to our facility in Ogden. It is unclear why he ended up there, as these birds are generally found in open grasslands and prairie.

On intake he weighed 850 g (about 1.9 pounds) and was in poor body condition.

Our treatment plan started with fluids and feedings with EmerAid IC Carnivore three times a day. As he gained weight we decreased to twice daily feedings of the EmerAid and began reintroducing whole foods.

Tests for avian influenza and West Nile Virus were sent out, both of which came back negative. He was moved to a flight enclosure after finishing the quarantine period.

Weighing in at 1,200 g (about 2.6 pounds) and flying confidently, he was relocated to suitable habitat at the end of September.