Injured Red-Tailed Hawk Rescued From Tree By Bridgewater Firefighters: Video

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — An injured red-tailed hawk, trapped 20 feet up in a tree, was rescued by volunteer firefighters on Sunday afternoon. (See the video of the rescue below)

A resident on Glen Ridge Drive South first noticed the hawk where they thought it was hunting squirrels, said Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter(FOSRAS) Vice President Colleen Lange to Patch.

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When the residents saw the hawk again on Sunday, they realized it was stuck and called Somerset Regional Animal Shelter(SRAS), several tree companies and The Raptor Trust for help and advice, said Lange.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter and the Green Knoll Fire Department went to the home where they found the hawk, whose leg was wedged in a crevice of a tree about 20 feet above the ground.

Lange said she thinks the hawk had probably tried to swoop in and grab a squirrel before becoming trapped.

"Our responding [Animal Control Officer] had to give fireman Tyler a crash course on safe wild bird handling, and he showed both bravery and kindness, as did the whole responding crew," according to SRAS. "It was a team effort, taking two men up on two ladders and another below with the carrier."

Somerset Regional staff took the injured bird to The Raptor Trust for treatment and care.

Watch the rescue below:

SRAS is a nonprofit organization that services pets in the Somerset County area. The shelter is always in need of donations.

The shelter at 100 Commons Way in Bridgewater is open daily from noon to 3:30 p.m.

For more information on making donations or adoptions, visit srasnj.org or facebook.com/somersetregionalanimalshelter.

Green Knoll is always looking for new volunteers. To volunteer or for more information, visit gkfc.org or facebook.com/Greenknollfiredepartment.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.