Watch CBS News

Lucky Bird Freed From Car's Engine Compartment

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) -- A red-tailed hawk - perhaps now red-faced as well - survived a collision with the front end of a car Thursday in Colorado Springs. The driver of a small car notified Colorado Parks and Wildlife when she found the fowl.

The driver told CPW she had earlier heard the bird strike the car and pulled over to investigate.

Grilled Hawk 1 (CPW SE Region tweet)
(credit: Twitter/Colorado Parks & Wildlife)

She found nothing at the time and continued driving home.

But then, once parked, she heard... scratching.

And, alas, discovered a bird of prey staring back at her from the car's radiator.

Grilled Hawk 2 (CPW SE Region tweet)
(credit: Twitter/Colorado Parks & Wildlife)

A state wildlife officer, Cassidy English, responded to the scene. In what CPW described as "a tense struggle involving sharp talons," English maneuvered the hawk into position for removal and lifted it out.

In a Twitter video, the freed bird appeared to stare at English harder than it physically fought against her.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.