The presence of a hunting hawk near a home, especially one with small pets or backyard livestock like chickens, creates a natural conflict. Hawks are highly effective natural predators, often putting them in opposition to human interests in protecting vulnerable animals. The goal is not to eliminate these birds but to employ humane, non-lethal methods. By making a property less appealing as a hunting ground, people can safeguard their animals while respecting the hawk’s place in the ecosystem.
Understanding Legal Protections for Raptors
All native species of hawks and other raptors in the United States are protected by federal legislation. This protection falls primarily under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), a law that safeguards nearly all native birds from unauthorized “take.” The term “take” is broadly defined and includes pursuing, hunting, capturing, injuring, or killing any protected bird, as well as possessing their eggs, nests, or feathers.
The MBTA makes it illegal for a property owner to harm a hawk, even if the bird is preying on their domestic animals. Violations of this federal law can result in significant fines and even imprisonment. Deterrence efforts must be non-lethal and non-harmful, focusing solely on exclusion and discouragement rather than removal or injury.
Structural and Physical Exclusion Methods
The most reliable approach to protecting vulnerable animals from aerial predators is the use of physical barriers. These structural methods work by completely preventing the hawk from accessing its intended prey, ensuring a near-guarantee of safety. The barrier must be installed overhead to block the hawk’s characteristic downward strike, which is the primary hunting method for many raptors.
Overhead netting is a common and effective solution for open runs or yards. A small mesh size is necessary to prevent the hawk from becoming entangled, which would harm the bird and defeat the purpose of humane deterrence. Secure enclosures for livestock should utilize sturdy materials like hardware cloth for side walls, which is much more durable than standard chicken wire.
Complete roof coverage is the ultimate form of exclusion and is particularly important for smaller, open-air structures like coops or rabbit hutches. This coverage can be solid or a tightly-tensioned wire mesh, which must be secured around the perimeter to eliminate any gaps a hawk might exploit. Proper tensioning of nets is necessary to prevent sagging, which could allow a hawk to land and put pressure on the barrier.
Visual and Auditory Deterrents
Methods that rely on scaring or confusing hawks often supplement physical barriers, especially in large or open areas. Visual deterrents exploit the hawk’s reliance on clear sight and a predictable environment for hunting success. Reflective objects, such as Mylar tape, old CDs, or specialized reflective balloons, create unexpected flashes of light and movement.
These sudden visual stimuli disrupt the hawk’s hunting focus, making the area seem unstable or dangerous. Decoys, such as plastic owls, are less effective over time because raptors quickly realize they are static and pose no real threat. To maintain effectiveness, static decoys must be moved frequently—ideally every few days—to prevent habituation.
Auditory deterrents involve the use of sudden, loud noises or recordings of predator distress calls. Playing distress calls can signal danger to an approaching hawk, causing it to move on and avoid the perceived threat. However, all sensory deterrents, including sounds, carry a risk of habituation and must be used sparingly or in conjunction with other methods to maintain their efficacy.
Reducing Environmental Attraction
Adjusting the property’s environment to remove hunting advantages for hawks is a long-term, passive form of deterrence. Hawks often use high vantage points to scout the area before making a strike, so removing or modifying these perches can significantly reduce their hunting efficiency. Anti-perching devices, such as spikes or specialized wire systems, can be installed on roof peaks, power lines, or fence tops to make landing uncomfortable or impossible.
Managing the availability of prey is another effective step. This includes temporarily removing open bird feeders that attract small birds, a primary food source for many hawks. Spilled seed can also attract rodents, another target for raptors, making proper cleanup and storage important. Homeowners can also create safe havens by planting dense shrubs or placing small shelters, often called “hawk huts,” near where their animals congregate. These structures provide quick, covered refuge for vulnerable animals, making a successful hunt much more difficult.