On November 8, 2022, Owl Moon received a call about an injured hawk in a homeowner’s yard. At first glance, Owl Moon volunteer Nancy thought the little Sharp-shinned hawk was deceased lying upside down in the grass. But when Nancy looked closer, she saw an eye blink. “Gracie” was rushed to Owl Moon for immediate treatment. While most of her injuries healed, it became clear that her middle toe was dislocated and would have to be removed. Sharp-shinned hawks use their toes to catch agile prey like songbirds, and the middle toe is one of the most important. Birds of the Genus Accipiters do not normally make good education birds. However, Gracie was a very special Accipiter comfortable around people with potential for becoming an education ambassador for her species. Even better, Owl Moon knew someone who was looking for a Sharp-shinned hawk to train as an ambassador. While Gracie’s educational permit processed, Owl Moon staff started training Gracie on basic cues. Working with an Accipiter is not easy as they are very reactive and can startle easily. Despite this, Gracie was a champ and learned readily. In September 2024, almost two years after she was brought to Owl Moon, Gracie’s permit was approved and she went to her forever home.
Unfortunately, six weeks later tragedy struck. One night, outdoor cats attempted to enter Gracie’s enclosure. Though they could not get inside, the cats’ efforts to catch Gracie in the dark caused her to panic and fatally hit a wall. Outdoor cats are responsible for killing over 2 billion birds every year. Gracie’s new home in Anne Arundel County has an ordinance that allows a feral cat to be a “community” cat if they are spayed/neutered, receive a rabies immunization, and their ear is notched.While many believe this is the most humane option for curbing the outdoor cat problem, Owl Moon believes it is not so simple. These cats can die horrible deaths in the wild, and multitudes of birds will be killed while we wait for the cat population to reduce. Cat saliva is toxic to birds—even picking up birds can easily kill them. If you have cats, please keep them indoors. There are so many options including catios that allow cats to be outside without free roaming. Your actions will save so many birds like Gracie.
Photo credit: Kaleigh Keesee
