Library Closes Again Amid Hawk Rescue Efforts In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Ocean County Library closed its Toms River branch again Thursday amid continuing efforts to capture a male red-tailed hawk that found its way inside, a library official said.

"Management has made a decision to close the branch as of 1 p.m. this afternoon in additional efforts to safely capture the hawk under the guidance and expertise of trained avian professionals," said Sherri Talierco, a library spokesperson.

She said the experts are trying to capture the hawk, which NJ 101.5 reported was identified as a "first-year" male red-tailed hawk by a trained falconer with the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, using safety traps called Havahart traps.

Talierco said the library management and experts are "doing everything we can to maintain the safety of all involved.

The hawk got into the library Monday afternoon, leading authorities to close early and stay closed Tuesday, library officials said. It reopened Wednesday.

An announcement Monday on the library's Facebook page described the closure as a "maintenance issue," but in comments under the closure posting, library o fficials confirmed it was because of the hawk.

The specialist was called in after the Toms River Fire Department, Toms River police and a falconer with the Ocean County Sheriff's Department tried to remove the bird on Monday, NJ 101.5 reported.

The hawk is about 22 inches tall with a 4-foot wingspan, NJ.com reported, quoting a library spokeswoman. Officials are unsure how it got in but believe it may have triggered the automatic doors and flown in.

Photos published by Ocean County Scanner News showed firefighters in the area by the main desk of the library on Monday night during their efforts to catch the bird.

Red-tailed hawks feed on small mammals, birds and reptiles, including rabbits, ground squirrels and snakes, according to the Audubon Society.

Note: This article has been updated Thursday with comment from the Ocean County Library.