Jan. 26 (UPI) — Animal services officers in Virginia came to the rescue of a hawk that visited a batting cage in a public park and was unable to find its way out.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter said on social media that officers responded to Pine Ridge Park last week on a report of a bird in distress.
They arrived to find the hawk was trapped inside a batting cage.
“The hawk was distressed and unable to find its way out of the space,” the post said. “Officers responded quickly, freeing the bird and safely releasing it.”
Officials wrote that hawks are an important part of maintaining balance in the local ecosystem.
“Without predation, prey populations would quickly grow out of control, leading to overgrazing of plant life, an increase in invasive species and overpopulation,” they wrote.
