Overview
- The adult female red‑shouldered hawk was found grounded in a Roanoke driveway and brought to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in early November for evaluation.
- Veterinarians ruled out broken bones, lead poisoning, eye trauma and emaciation and instead found the hawk weighed more than 910 grams, far above the species’ typical 450–680 gram range.
- The center concluded the hawk had repeatedly eaten free‑ranging neighborhood chickens and then rested between meals, a pattern that led to excessive fat that prevented flight.
- Staff warned the condition is effectively man‑made because unsecured poultry provided easy prey, leaving the grounded hawk highly vulnerable to predators and other dangers.
- The rescue center’s viral Facebook post has prompted broad media coverage and renewed advice for chicken owners to use covered runs or other protections to prevent indirect feeding of wildlife.