PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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SLCPD Officer Helps Rescue Injured Bird in Downtown

SALT LAKE CITY — An officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department helped rescue an injured bird in downtown.

The officer, on patrol near 425 South 500 West on Thursday, December 29, 2023, saw a man in the middle of the street fumbling with a hat.

The situation appeared unusual, so the officer kept a watchful eye on the man from his patrol car. As the officer watched, the man accidentally dropped the hat. The hat appeared to hit the ground with more force than a person would expect from a winter hat dropping.

Due to the curious circumstances, the officer swooped in and approached the man at approximately 3:05 p.m.

The man, who spoke limited English, said, “eagle” and pointed into the hat.

The officer looked inside the hat and saw a small bird emerge. The approximate age of the bird is not known.

The man indicated he saw the bird get hit by a car and struggle to move so he picked up the bird to help get it out of the street.

Neither the community member nor the officer could immediately confirm the species of the injured bird.

The officer, however, recognized the bird was likely a protected species of some sort.

The officer worked with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resource. The agency referred the officer to take the bird to a private animal care facility in the Salt Lake Valley.

With the little feathered friend safely nestled in the knit hat, the officer took the bird for a medical evaluation.

The facility confirmed the bird was a young hawk and admitted it.

The Utah Wildlife Board encourages responsible wildlife rehabilitation by trained and educated individuals as a public service and for the benefit of Utah’s wildlife resources.

Community members who find an injured wild animal, should contact an appropriate wildlife rehabilitator to determine the next steps based on the center’s recommendation.

If the animal is a potential hazard for whatever reason, such as an injured deer blocking traffic, community members should call 9-1-1 so an officer can evaluate the situation.

Several photos of the bird are being released. Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

No additional details about this case are available for release.

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police officer helped rescue an injured bird, later determined to be some type of hawk (SLCPD photo, December 28, 2023).

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police officer helped rescue an injured bird, later determined to be some type of hawk (SLCPD photo, December 28, 2023).

Photo: A community member holds an injured hawk in downtown (SLCPD photo, December 28, 2023).

Photo: A community member holds an injured hawk in downtown (SLCPD photo, December 28, 2023).

Photo: A community member holds an injured hawk in downtown (SLCPD photo, December 28, 2023).

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