South Bay humane society rehabilitates, releases hawk shot by BB gun

SAN JOSE — The Peninsula Humane Society & Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released a red-shoulder hawk earlier this month following ten weeks of treatment and rehabilitation after she was shot by a BB gun.

The hawk was found, unable to fly, on a picnic table at a San Jose park in late July, suffering from an open head wound and tearing and swelling in her right eye — impacting her vision, which is integral to hunting for food, according to a press release from PHS/SPCA.

The hawk was brought to the PHS/SPCA’s San Jose wildlife intake center, where it was stabilized and later transferred to the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga for treatment from a wildlife veterinarian and staff, PHS/SPCA said. Vet staff conducted an X-ray which revealed that she had been shot by a BB gun. The hawk also tested positive for lead.

The hawk underwent surgery to remove the BB, but her right eye had little to no vision due to the injury, the organization said. This marked the first surgery at the Saratoga wildlife center, which opened earlier this year.

“The hawk’s post-surgery feistiness was an excellent sign, but her road to recovery was not over,” the organization added. “Red-shoulder hawks are daytime hunters and must have perfect vision to navigate forested areas in pursuit of fast prey.”

The hawk then underwent two months of “rigorous” rehabilitation to regain her vision, the PHS/SPCA said.

“We are thrilled to report she fully recovered, and her vision returned to normal,” said Colleen Crowley, PHS/SPCA communications manager. “The hawk spent the last few weeks in the Wildlife Care Center raptor aviaries amongst the trees.”

The new wildlife center released a litter of orphaned baby foxes after four months of rehabilitation earlier this year.

PHS/SPCA asks anyone who finds an orphaned, sick or injured animal to contact them at 650-340-7022.