They needed help — and fast.
Fairfax County Animal Services officer Abdul Taieb arrived and assessed the situation. The hawk was understandably on edge.
“He was defensive,” Taieb said. “However, once I restrained his wings while he was tangled, he remained relatively calm — which made the rescue process safer.”
Working methodically, Taieb secured the bird’s wings with one hand and used the other to carefully cut away the netting binding his talons. Bit by bit, the hawk came free.
Back where he belonged
What happened next made it all worthwhile. The hawk took flight — cleanly, strongly, gaining altitude as he headed toward the tree line.
“The hawk flew away normally and was able to gain altitude as it flew toward the wooded area, indicating that there was no apparent injury to its wings,” Taieb said.
“It was very rewarding. Seeing it fly away was a great reminder of the importance of helping tangled wildlife that cannot free themselves.”
Taieb’s message to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation is simple: call the experts. A well-meaning attempt to help can sometimes cause more harm than good — but a phone call to animal services costs nothing and can make all the difference.
This hawk made it home because someone stopped, noticed, and did exactly that.