Female Hawk Becomes ‘Too Fat to Fly’ After Feasting on Chickens, Wildlife Rescuers Reveal Bizarre Reason Behind Weight Gain

A female hawk in the United States has attracted attention after wildlife rescuers discovered that the bird had become so overweight that it was struggling to fly. The unusual case reportedly came to light after the bird developed a habit of hunting domestic chickens and eating more food than it could comfortably manage.

The incident has sparked interest online, with the bird’s unexpected condition highlighting how access to abundant food can affect the behaviour and physical health of wild animals.

A female hawk in the United States has attracted attention after wildlife rescuers discovered that the bird had become so overweight that it could no longer fly. The unusual case came to light after the bird reportedly spent several weeks hunting free-ranging chickens, eating its fill and resting in nearby trees between meals.

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The adult red-shouldered hawk was found grounded in a residential driveway near Roanoke, Virginia. She was subsequently taken to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center for examination after a local resident discovered that she was unable to take flight.

According to the wildlife centre, the bird weighed more than 910 grams, significantly above the normal weight range for her species. After ruling out several possible medical problems, rescuers concluded that excessive weight was preventing her from flying normally.

How Did the Female Hawk Become Too Fat to Fly?

In a social media post, the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center explained that the mature female hawk, identified as RSHA 26-2599, was found approximately a mile from its facility.

When the bird arrived, wildlife experts initially investigated whether an injury, illness or another medical condition was responsible for her inability to fly.