Throwing an apple core out of your car window might seem like an inconsequential act. But jettisoned food creates a roadside buffet for animals and the raptors who hunt them. Unfortunately, that can sometimes lead to injuries and fatalities when birds are struck by passing cars.
Red-tailed hawks, kestrels and owls can also get caught in the air turbulence caused by fast-moving vehicles; it sweeps them up, and then throws them to the ground. If you hit a bird, or come across an injured one on the road, wildlife officials have some tips on what to do next.
Melanie Lashlee is a licensed bird rehabilitator who has partnered with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. She says, if you find a bird that appears stunned but uninjured, it may recover on its on and fly away.
If it’s clearly in trouble, Lashlee recommends gently wrapping the bird in a blanket, towel or t-shirt, making sure to cover its head and avoid the talons. Try to put the bird in a box or other small space to keep it still and warm. Lashlee advises against trying to feed the injured bird or giving it water. Dropping water down its mouth may go down the windpipe into the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia and death.
As soon as you get the bird off the roadway, call the closest Game and Fish office or radio dispatch. Arizona Game and Fish has a map and list of licensed bird rehabilitators, both state and federal. Wildlife officials will care for the injured bird until it can heal and, hopefully, take flight once again.
