Two Hawks Shot in Separate Southern California Incidents

Two hawks were treated for gunshot injuries in separate, apparently unrelated incidents in Southern California last month. A red-tailed hawk found in Indio underwent orthopedic surgery and is recovering, while a red-shouldered hawk found unable to fly in San Diego’s Encanto neighborhood had fractures and lead poisoning and died under anesthesia during treatment. Wildlife officials stressed that hawks are legally protected and play an important role in ecosystems, and urged people to seek humane ways to address concerns about wildlife rather than harm the birds.