Hawks, birds of prey, hold a significant position at the apex of many ecosystems. These raptors contribute to maintaining natural balance by regulating populations of smaller animals. Their presence indicates a healthy environment, as they control species that could otherwise become overabundant and disrupt ecological stability.
Why Feeding Wild Hawks Is Not Recommended
Directly feeding wild hawks, while seemingly helpful, can lead to harmful outcomes for these animals. Wild animals possess naturally specialized diets, and human-provided food often lacks the specific nutrients hawks require, potentially leading to malnutrition or deformities. Animals consuming inappropriate foods may also experience digestive issues, which can result in illness or even death.
Feeding wild hawks can cause them to lose their natural wariness of humans, known as habituation. This diminished fear can lead to hawks approaching people or populated areas for food, increasing their risk of injury from vehicles, domestic animals, or human conflict. Concentrating animals in unnatural numbers at feeding sites also facilitates the rapid spread of diseases among them, threatening broader wildlife populations. Relying on human-supplied food can diminish a hawk’s hunting instincts and foraging skills, making them less capable of surviving independently in the wild.
Natural Diet of Hawks
Hawks are skilled predators with diverse diets, primarily consuming small animals they hunt. For instance, Red-tailed Hawks predominantly feed on small mammals, such as mice, voles, and rabbits, which can constitute 85-90% of their diet. They also prey on various other creatures, including snakes, lizards, and other birds, adapting their diet based on regional availability.
Broad-winged Hawks, common in forested areas, consume a wide variety of prey, including small mammals like chipmunks, shrews, and voles, as well as amphibians such as frogs and toads. Their diet can also include reptiles like snakes and lizards, large insects, and occasionally nestling birds.
What to Do If You Find a Hawk in Distress
Encountering a hawk that appears injured, sick, or orphaned can be concerning, but direct intervention by an untrained individual can cause more harm. It is important not to attempt to feed the bird or provide it with water, as this can worsen its condition or even be fatal. Hawks can be stressed by human contact.
The most effective course of action is to immediately contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center, animal control, or your state wildlife agency. These organizations have trained professionals equipped to handle wild animals safely and provide the specialized care required for recovery. Handling a hawk without proper training can result in serious injuries from its sharp talons and beak, and it can also increase the bird’s stress, hindering its chances of rehabilitation.
Attracting Hawks to Your Property Naturally
Creating an environment that naturally supports hawks involves fostering a healthy ecosystem that provides for their needs. Hawks are drawn to properties that offer ample prey, suitable perching locations, and open hunting grounds. Encouraging populations of small mammals, such as rodents, by allowing grassy areas to grow longer or planting native shrubs can increase the natural food supply.
Providing elevated perches, such as tall, mature trees or sturdy artificial posts, offers hawks vantage points to survey for prey and rest. Maintaining areas with a mix of open spaces and natural vegetation allows hawks the necessary room to hunt. Avoiding pesticides is also important, as these chemicals can harm the small animals that hawks prey upon, potentially leading to secondary poisoning. A water source, like a bird bath or pond, can attract various wildlife, indirectly benefiting hawks by increasing the prey base.