Red-Tailed Hawk Rescued From Spring Rock Soccer Net

Western Springs staff raced to the rescue of a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) that became trapped in the netting of a soccer goal in the northwest corner of on Friday afternoon (Mar. 9.) 

The was notified of the ensnared bird by a resident, and deployed Community Services Officer Jim Strafaci along with four staff, who left their lunch breaks to find the hawk with his legs and an entire wing stuck in the net.

“I don’t know how he got snarled up with it,” said Director of Parks Craig Himmelman, one of the responders, adding that it likely started as a much smaller snag. “I suspect that he would try to fly away, get to the end of the net and end up rolling around. The net was well-entwined around his wing and his talons and just twisted.”

Strafaci fortunately had Kevlar gloves, which the officer used to stabilize the bird, along with a blanket to calm it while the Park District staff carefully snipped away the net.

“The bird seemed to calm down once he realized we were there and helping,” Himmelman said. “It sounds a little strange, but animals are intelligent and he wasn’t trying to get me with his free leg or lurching at me with his hooked beak.”

Once the bird was free, it required just a few moments to recuperate before flying off apparently unharmed.

Himmelman said it was the first time the Park District had seen anything like it in 32 years.

“It was a very gratifying experience, and it’s always nice to see wildlife get rescued,” said Himmelman. “This shows the depth and the breadth of the Park District. It’s not just about mowing grass.”

The other Park District staff to respond were Dennis Conway, Greg Eggert and Bill Raftery.