Indiana

Indiana

Species: Red-tailed Hawk

Nicknames: Indy

Sex: Female

Hatched: Estimated 2004

Arrived: 2008

Condition: Human habituated (illegally kept as a pet)

Indiana’s Story:

Indiana was found by a good samaritan in 2007, who quickly realized that something was not right. She appeared to be in poor health and did not fly away when approached, and on closer inspection she had wire wrapped around her legs. She was delivered to the Toronto Wildlife Centre for rehabilitation, but the wire restraints she was wearing left little mystery about her early life.

It seems clear that Indiana was illegally captured from the wild by someone who wanted to keep him as a pet or use him for falconry (hunting). The wire tells us that this individual was not familiar with proper falconry techniques, and most likely was unlicensed and acting illegally. Indy may have escaped or been set free, but because of her time spent in captivity, she was habituated to humans and was not able to hunt for herself.

Indy’s story makes her an important member of the Wild Ontario team, and her striking looks never fail to impress an audience! She provides an invaluable opportunity to get to know one of Ontario’s most common raptors face-to-face, and to connect with the beauty of nature in our province.

Red-tailed Hawks are the most commonly seen raptor in Ontario, and they can be spotted in agricultural areas, roadsides, and even cities. These bulky birds are masters of energy conservation, soaring effortlessly overhead or sitting for hours on the same branch. They use a well-timed sneak-attack to surprise their prey on the ground, which can include all manner of mammal, bird, and even reptile.