By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center
Have you ever heard of a hawk vest, raptor shield or coyote vest? I had no idea they even existed until I started researching this article. Although they may go by different names, they are all very similar and serve the same purpose. They claim to protect small animals from birds of prey, coyotes and even aggressive dogs. Now you may think this is silly and even a little ridiculous but if you’re someone who has suffered the loss of a pet snatched by a raptor or coyote, it makes perfect sense. As recently as January 18th in Pennsylvania, an 8-pound bichon frise was playing in the backyard when an eagle swooped down, grabbed it with its talons and flew off with it. Not to worry. For some unknown reason, the eagle dropped it 4 miles away and the dog recovered.
A bird of prey is a meat-eater but not all birds of prey are raptors. Eagles, owls, ospreys, kites, hawks, buzzards, harriers, vultures, and falcons are all raptors. Three traits help distinguish a raptor from other birds of prey and these three traits make raptors excellent hunters. A raptor has a curved beak with sharp edges, sharp claws or talons and excellent eyesight.
Of all the animals in the animal kingdom, raptors have the best eyesight. Their eyesight is 6 to 8 times better than ours. As far as which raptor has the best eyesight it is most definitely the eagle. It is believed that an eagle can spot an ant crawling on the ground from atop a 10-story building, or a rabbit up to a mile away. Breaking that down even a little further, this means an eagle flying at an altitude of 1000 feet over open country could spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position.
The talons, or claws, of raptors are curved downward and are razor sharp. If you were to see a raptor’s foot up close you would also notice rough bumps on the pads of the feet which aid in hanging onto their prey like slippery fish. The raptor swoops down and with a vise-like grip either kills the prey or inflicts serious wounds.
The beaks of raptors are all the same. They are curved with very sharp edges. They use their beaks to tear off fur, pull out feathers and tear meat into bite-sized pieces that they swallow whole. Raptors also have what we would call a “tooth” on the inside of the upper part of their beak. It’s shaped like a triangle and is called a tomila. This is used to cut the spinal cord of its prey.
If you come across an injured raptor, there are very important steps to take to insure your safety and the safety of the bird. First, call TWRC Wildlife Center. If the bird doesn’t fly away when approached, this doesn’t always mean it’s injured. It could be protecting food or babies. If it is determined that the bird actually needs rescuing, we will direct you on how to safely capture and restrain the hawk If you do not feel comfortable handling the hawk, we can recommend other options for transport. If it is injured, you’ll need heavy gloves, safety glasses and a thick towel or blanket. Throw the towel or blanket over the bird and take hold of the bird by keeping its wings close to its body and your hands out of reach of the talons. Darkness helps calm birds and the towel provides that. Place the bird in a sturdy box or pet carrier that is only slightly larger than the bird. If it’s too large, the bird will be able to flop around and could inflict even more injuries. Be sure to remove the towel or blanket from the container. Now place that towel or blanket over the carrier. Bring the bird to us as quickly as possible for care. Please do not attempt to feed the bird or provide water. As with most wild animals, it is illegal to have raptors in your possession. They are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
If you have any wildlife questions, give us a call at 713-468-8972 or check our website at www.twrcwildlifecenter.org.
Spring is our busiest season and babies have started coming in. We need compassionate people to help feed and care for baby squirrels, baby opossums and baby birds. The age requirement is 14 and up. This is an experience you’ll never forget! The link is https://www.twrcwildlifecenter.org/volunteer/