Sick Hawk Makes Full Recovery, Released Back Into Livermore Park

LIVERMORE, CA — A sick red-tailed hawk that was rescued last month in Big Trees Park, has made a full recovery and was released back into the wild Monday. The bird was taken back to the Livermore park, where she is expected to thrive.

The young female raptor was weak and barely able to stand when she rescued Nov. 19 by Livermore Police Department Animal Control and taken to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital in Walnut Creek.

When hospital staff took her in, it was touch and go.

"She had a very high parasite load," said Aireo Shipman, the hospital's wildlife rehabilitation manager. More than 30 ticks were removed from the bird that was believed to be under 3 years old. Shipman said the hawk was likely suffering from tick paralysis. The illness is caused by a neurotoxin produced in the tick's salivary gland.

Such a high tick load is uncommon for birds, according to Shipman, so staffers weren't sure how the hawk would fare.

But on Nov. 21, the patient showed improvement and began feeding. Four days later, she was healthy enough to move into the facility's aviary.

"When she turned the corner, she became a normal, feisty red-tailed hawk," Shipman said.

Livermore Patch reader Janice Rogers first alerted Patch to last month's bird rescue. She was out on a morning walk and discovered the hawk, which appeared to be injured. With help from Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department crew members, animal control officers were able to safely rescue the raptor that was precariously perched 20 feet up in a tree.

Rogers was also first to alert readers to the hawk's miraculous recovery and release. "Merry Christmas!!! Rogers wrote. "Update on our red-tailed hawk — she has made a full recovery and is being released back into the wild today!

"I love a happy ending! Rogers continued. "I have named her 'Holiday' and hope to see her hunting again in our neighborhood soon."

According to Shipman, the lifespan of a red-tailed hawk can sometimes exceed 15 years.