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After three Main Street attacks on humans, red-tailed hawk is captured and relocated by USDA Wildlife Services

Village

by Chrissy Ruggeri | Tue, Aug 10 2021

USDA Wildlife Services captured the red-tailed hawk that attacked three pedestrians in the last few weeks. Photo courtesy of the Northport Village Police Department

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Last Friday, the Northport Village Police Department, with the assistance of the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, captured and relocated a juvenile red-tailed hawk after it had attacked Village pedestrians on three different occasions. The hawk attacks occurred in the area of Main Street and Church Street/Ocean Avenue over the course of four to five weeks, according to Chief of Police, Chris Hughes.

“Each of the attacks caused a laceration to the head of the individuals, some requiring minor medical attention,” Chief Hughes told the Journal.

After the first attack, the police department contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation who put them in touch with USDA Wildlife Services. Coincidentally, the day that USDA personnel came to Northport to look at the site, the hawk (named Sailor, according to Village officials) attacked for the third time.

After Sailor was spotted, the USDA placed two traps in the area. The traps are similar to the “have-a-heart” style trap, Chief Hughes explained, which is designed to capture and contain the animal so that it can be relocated and released safely. To trap Sailor, a pigeon was placed in a compartment trap, which was left in the rear parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street. Passersby were confused by the cage and the condition of the pigeon, which was sitting on the pavement in direct sunlight, on a hot day.

Northport resident Eileen Tucker D’Amore said that she noticed the trap in the parking lot and called the church for more information. She was directed to the police department, who explained the situation and told her that the wildlife department was livestreaming the cage and continually checking on the pigeon, making sure it had enough food and water.

Chief Hughes said that the hawk was captured within 18 hours. The next morning, Sailor was released about 50 miles away, on public land in Southampton, said Village officials. According to Public Affair Specialist for USDA Wildlife Services, Tanya Espinosa, the National Wildlife Research Center offered guidance on the hawk’s relocation.

Chief Hughes said that the hawk is believed to be a juvenile and not a parent looking to protect its nest. The reasons for the attacks remain unknown, but Sailor is now living its best life in the Hamptons.

A compartment trap was set up in the rear parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 6, to capture the hawk. Photo credit: Eileen Tucker D’Amore

A "have-a-heart" style compartment trap lures the hawk in with a pigeon as bait and safely captures it without endangering either animal. Photo credit: Eileen Tucker D’Amore

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