Moose

Moose

Species: Broad-winged Hawk

Nicknames: The Spruce Moose

Sex: Presumed male

Hatched: 2018

Arrived: 2018

Condition: Wing injury (cause unknown)

Moose’s Story:

Moose’s story is a bit of a mystery – all we know is that he was found as a young bird with an injured wing and taken to Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge. The cause of his injury is unclear – he may have been hit by a car, attacked by another animal, or something else altogether. Whatever the case, the lasting damage to his wing makes Moose a poor flyer.

While he was being treated at Shades of Hope, Moose’s caretakers noticed that he was unusually comfortable around people. This odd behaviour can sometimes be a result of head trauma (maybe from the same impact that injured his wing), or can be a sign that the bird has had contact with humans at a young age.

Whatever his history, Moose’s calm demeanour and comfort with people made him a quick study at Wild Ontario, and he has become an excellent educational ambassador for one of Ontario’s lesser-known hawk species.

Broad-winged Hawks are common in Ontario, but they are not often seen in the southern parts of our province. These small, secretive hawks live in the forests of central and northern Ontario where many people cottage or camp. Keep your ears peeled for them in cottage country, as you may hear their high-pitched whistle piercing through the trees.