Hatboro Cops Help Save Hawk

Police are accustomed to helping in distressful situations.

Usually those instances involve human beings, but on Thursday, Hatboro Police Sgt. Mark Ruegg and Officer Chris Swoyer assisted a bird of prey on the road to recovery. 

Ruegg and Swoyer responded to a residence in the 400 block of Springdale Avenue Thursday afternoon, according to Police Chief James Gardner. The homeowner had reported an injured bird on her porch. Police, upon arriving, found a Cooper's Hawk, which appeared to be in distress, Gardner said. 

Police safely captured the raptor, packaged it and Gardner transported it to the Aark Foundation, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility in Chalfont. Gardner said the bird appeared to be underweight for its estimated age and dehydrated. 

Gardner said people should never approach or handle injured or sick wildlife. Instead, contact the police or a trained professional.