A petition has been launched to save the life of a dive-bombing hawk that has terrorised locals in an idyllic village in Hertfordshire. Dozens of people in Flamstead have been attacked by the Harris’s Hawk over the last month, with tall men being particularly targeted.
A falconer has been brought in to try to catch the bird of prey. Yet, despite getting “extremely close” to catching it, Flamstead Parish Council said it was “getting close to the stage where we may have to euthanise the hawk” in light of the number of attacks. But Rhonda Draper, a Flamstead resident, says the bird “deserves understanding” and has launched a petition to save it. The hawk is believed to have escaped from captivity – they are native to the Americas, not the UK, and are one of the most commonly kept birds of prey breeds in the country.
Ms Draper said she believes the hawk has been struggling to readjust after captivity and should not be punished for its behaviour.
In an online petition, she said: “Instead of a death sentence, it deserves understanding.”
Ms Drapper added: “This issue personally hits me as I stand by the belief that every living being has a right to live, humans or wild animals such as our Harris Hawk. Hawks are beings of immense ecological value contributing significantly in controlling rodent populations.”
She went on to claim that punishing the bird after it didn’t have the chance to revert to its natural habitat was “inhumane and unfair”.
“For these reasons, let’s collectively urge our community leaders to provide the necessary time for the falconer to carry out his work, and have wildlife experts assess and address the behavior of the Harris Hawk.”
More than 150 people have signed the petition.
Flamstead Parish Council said about 50 residents in the small village had been attacked by the bird, leaving some with injuries and cuts.
Resident Roy Lambden, 68, told The Times he was out walking when he “felt a whack” on his head and realised he was bleeding. He said: “It was only from the corner of my eye that I realised it was a bird because I saw it fly away. I was one of the first to be hit by it. Since then, around 20 people I know have been attacked. Lots of bleeding heads — my friend who is bald has got two scars from it.”
Some locals have taken to wearing hats to try to protect their head from the swooping bird, while TV crews reporting from the village have worn bicycle helmets.
The Harris’s Hawk has dark brown, chestnut red and white markings, with long yellow legs and yellow markings on its face, according to the website All About Birds.
They are described as social birds, with a body length of up to 24 inches and a wingspan of up to four feet.