One afternoon in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a man named William Ortiz was driving along a busy highway when something unusual caught his attention.
In the middle of the road lay an animal clearly in distress. The poor creature appeared badly injured, yet cars continued rushing past without slowing down or stopping to help.
Though William wasn’t immediately sure what kind of animal it was, he knew he couldn’t just drive by. He carefully pulled over and waited for the right moment to safely cross the lanes of traffic. With cars flying by on both sides, he cautiously made his way toward the motionless animal.
When he finally got close enough to see, his heart sank. Wasting no time, he grabbed his phone and called for help.
A Hawk In Dire Shape
In the center of the highway was a young red-tailed hawk, unable to move and clearly in terrible condition.
The injuries suggested the hawk had been struck by a passing vehicle, and the driver had carried on without stopping. Fortunately, William arrived just in time to intervene. He immediately contacted Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC) for assistance.
Since the center is also located in Lancaster, rescuers reached the scene quickly and transported the hawk to safety.
But once they examined him closely, they realized how severe his injuries truly were.
“I just can’t imagine the pain and agony that bird was in,” wildlife rehabilitator Tracie Young told The Dodo.
According to RRWC’s Facebook post, the hawk had both eyes shut, struggled to stand, displayed torticollis symptoms, and had suffered serious head trauma. His condition was so grave that the team feared he might not survive at all.
Miraculously, after 72 hours of intensive care, the hawk opened his eyes and stood up on his own. For the first time since his rescue, there was hope. His caregivers were thrilled to see such progress.
Only hours earlier his life had been hanging by a thread, and now he was strong enough to begin the next stage of healing. The goal was clear: to prepare him for a return to the wild where he belonged.
Preparing For Release
Once the hawk was deemed stable, Young arranged for him to continue his recovery with a skilled falconer.
“Falconers spend a significant amount of time training their birds to develop a strong bond and establish trust. This involves teaching the bird to respond to commands, such as returning to the glove or perch. They also work on conditioning the bird’s fitness and hunting skills through exercise and simulated hunting sessions,” RRWC explained in a Facebook post.
This crucial stage would help the hawk rebuild strength and sharpen his instincts. His training was expected to continue into spring, after which he would be ready for release back into the wild.
The progress was inspiring. RRWC even shared a video showing his condition before and after treatment, and the improvement was remarkable.
Soon, the hawk would be soaring free again.
Thanks to one man’s compassion, a life was saved that day. While countless others passed by without pausing, William chose to act, giving a vulnerable animal the chance to survive.
Considering that many red-tailed hawks don’t live through their first year, his decision to help made an even greater difference.