The Story Of A Swainson’s Hawk Recovery

The following story about a Swainson’s hawk was submitted by Kent Wildlife Rehabilitation in Idaho.

A juvenile Swainson’s hawk was found grounded near a highway and picked up by Fish and Game. He was possibly hit by a car. His left wing was drooping and he was slightly dehydrated, but he had no other apparent injuries. His intake weight was 670 grams (about 1.5 pounds).

His left wing was X-rayed, but no fractures were visible. A dose of 20 ml Normosol was given that evening and the following morning. Also, 20 ml of EmerAid IC Carnivore was administered BID and 0.22ml of Metacam, an NSAID, given orally once a day for four days. A cut up mouse was offered, but he refused to eat on his own so EmerAid was continued.

On day 4, cut up mouse was hand-fed, and he began to eat on his own. He was moved to an outside mew/hawk enclosure at 608 grams and food intake was increased.

He was successfully released two weeks later. Release weight was 720 grams (about 1.6 pounds).