PVREA Rescues Hawk In Powerline

On July 14 a call came in to the Poudre valley REA Operations Department asking for help rescuing a hawk that had become caught in a powerline. A truck was dispatched and arrived in time to save the raptor. Below is a letter received from the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program once the hawk was saved.

I just wanted to give a HUGE thanks to those involved in helping with the rescue of the red tailed hawk stuck on the power line up on the ridge near Greenmile Dr last night. Everyone involved was great from the dispatcher that acted quickly to get assistance to us to the awesome lineman, Kelly Streeb, that responded. It was determined that the bucket truck could not be used to reach the bird due to the precarious location of the pole, so Kelly spiked up and was able to detach the bird from the wire that had impaled its wing and lower it to the ground for rescue. The bird was then taken to the center for emergency care. The bird is stable but sustained quitea bit of damage to its left wing from the wire piercing through it and the weight of the bird hanging there but at least, thanks to your crew's help, it is still alive and has been given a chance. Luckily, so far at least, important structures in the wing are still intact but the extent of the damage will not be know for a while yet. The damaged area will be treated and assessed over the next week or so and by then we will have a better idea of the the bird's outcome. It is an immature bird (this year's kid) and has quite an attitude (ie mad!). Again thanks to everyone who responded to our plea for help and went above and beyond to help this bird. Thanks for caring about the wildlife in our community. You guys are awesome!
Gail Gail Kratz
Medical Director
Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

Poudre Valley REA has a long-standing raptor program that seeks to protect birds of prey from harm.
This spring a PVREA assisted the placement of a hand-woven osprey nest on a platform near the Poudre River in LaPorte (pictured above). Rose and Jim Brinks had the Osprey platform constructed on an old power pole on their property last year, but Ospreys never took up residence. Several students from Cache La Poudre Middle School wove the nest with willow and dogwood branches in the hope that Ospreys would occupy the nest this year.

Ospreys are birds of prey that eat fish (at least 99% of their diet by weight). They hover and dive into the water with talons held out in front of their heads to grab fish that are within about 3 feet of the surface. They are about 2 feet long (from head to tail) and have over a 5 foot wingspan. They weigh about 3.5 pounds.

The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured birds of prey, including Eagles, Owls, Hawks and Falcons and works closely with the veterinarians at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Medical Center. RMRP has consulted been envolved with nearly 5,000 raptor cases since the program started as a student club in 1979 and averages about one admission and several injured raptor calls each day. More than 70% of treatable raptors are released for A Second Chance At Freedom.

Poudre Valley REA • PO Box 272550, 7649 REA Parkway, Fort Collins, CO 80527-2550 - Map
Phone: 800.432.1012 • FAX: 970.226.2123 • Email: pvrea@pvrea.com