Harris Hawk Housed in Zoo Atlanta Dies From Injuries After Brawl with Mystery Wild Animal That Snuck In

The Harris hawk kept by Zoo Atlanta passed away from severe injuries sustained during what is believed to have been a brawl with a mystery wild animal that snuck into the bird's enclosure.

This week, a beloved member of the World of Wild Theater at Zoo Atlanta passed away.

According to zoo officials, Tahoe the Harris hawk, who was 23 years old, got into a brawl with an unknown wild animal in his secure outdoor mew and later passed away from his wounds.

What animal attacked Tahoe and how it entered his cage are still unknown.

The Animal Care and Veterinary Teams at Zoo Atlanta stated on Facebook that they take every precaution to ensure the security of all of their animals and the housing facilities they are housed in, while also appreciating the fact that, thanks to their fortunate park location, the zoo shares its grounds with local wildlife.

The zoo teams have proactively evaluated each of the bird mews in the World of Wild Theater and are taking further preventative steps, such as searching the area for hair, feces, or other sources that may shed light.

Tahoe the Harris Hawk

Tahoe entered the Zoo the same year she was born, in 1999. As he educated numerous zoo visitors about his species, Tahoe became renowned for his daring aerial maneuvers and magic tricks.

The Southwest region of the United States is home to Harris hawks, also referred to as "the wolves of the sky."

Rebecca Young, the curator of Ambassador Animals, claimed that Tahoe genuinely appeared to enjoy flying low enough to cause a commotion and seemed to enjoy his advantages of flights above an audience. The team member who knew Tahoe the best was Young. She claimed Tahoe was a bird who made people earn their relationship with him and then made them work some more to maintain it.

Tahoe's cause of death is still under investigation by Zoo Atlanta, WSBTV reports.

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Harris Hawks

According to data from All About Birds, the Harris's Hawk, a dashing hawk of the arid Southwest, stands out for its bold markings colored chestnut red, dark brown, and white, as well as its long yellow legs and yellow spots on its face. These birds work cooperatively at nests and engage in team-based hunting, making them the most social raptors in North America.

A group of hawks will surround their prey during a hunt, flush it for another hawk to catch, or alternately chase it. Due to its social nature and relative comfort around people, this hawk is well-liked by falconers and used in educational programs.

According to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, only two species of raptors are known to hunt in groups, and Harris hawks are one of them. Harris' hawks have an incredible vision that may be eight times better than that of humans.

Many predators have trouble getting to these birds' nests because they are high up in saguaro cacti or trees. Members of the group will also use alarm calls or harassment of any animals that pose a threat to the nest to deter predators. Great horned owls, common ravens, coyotes, and bobcats are a few examples of predators.