East Haven Animal Control Officer Saves A Hawk, And The Day

EAST HAVEN, CT —East Haven Animal Control Officer Owen Little was just stopping by police headquarters to pick up a portable radio when he heard the call about a possibly injured hawk in a Francis Street backyard.

And off he went.

Little told Patch that when he got to the home, he grabbed his binoculars and, as he got closer to the red-shouldered hawk, it was clear that it could not fly as it "tried to run away" from him.

He phoned a friend who has a nuisance wildlife control business to assist him in capturing the injured diurnal bird of prey, and he agreed to volunteer his help. The men were able to trap the hawk, carefully put it in a cage, and then Little, who has been in the job for East Haven for 29 years, made a call to A Place Called Hope in Killingworth where he'd bring the bird.

But first, a stop to see his wife, Deborah, who works for Central Hospital For Veterinary Medicine in North Haven. There, they'd make it warm and comfortable and triaged the hurt hawk. And Deborah would take photographs.

Little said it's not his first hawk rescue. But still, a stirring save. He said he wasn't certain what had caused the bird's inability to fly, its injury; maybe hit by a car, or a BB bullet, he was not sure.

When asked about how he feels doing the work he does, he said what matters is that what he does matters.

"I get to make a difference," he said.

Indeed.

A Place Called Hope posted to Facebook that they'll, "Do our best to help him. Together we are making a difference for our wildlife."