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Chattanooga Lowe’s Helps Rescue Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk Rescued from Lowe’s

On Feb 23, Tim from Lowe’s Home Improvement on Gunbarrel Road, Chattanooga called the TWRA about a Cooper’s Hawk inside the store. The TWRA referred him to Alix Parks, and she advised him with ways to try to entice the hawk back outside. He called again the next day because their efforts had been unsuccessful.

So that night after work, Sherry Teas volunteered to try to catch the hawk. Alix gave her a hawk trap with two live mice inside and she headed to Lowe’s. The employees guided her to the section of the store where the large, female Cooper’s Hawk was hanging out. Her crop was visibly bulging from the songbirds she had been eating inside the store that day. Sherry was concerned she wouldn’t have an appetite, for the mice but when she sat the trap in the isle below her, the hawk swooped down on the trap within seconds.

Happinest Wildlife removes Cooper’s Hawk from Chattanooga Lowe’s

Sherry ran over to grab her gloves and just as she put one glove on,  the hawk jumped off the trap and flew straight at her face.  With quick reflexes, she caught the aggressive Cooper’s in mid-air with the one-gloved hand! The hawk was still flapping and fighting to get away while Sherry was trying to get the other glove on, but she didn’t have a firm grip so she slipped out of hand.

Four more times the Cooper’s landed on the trap, and finally she was snagged. Sherry threw a towel over her and removed the snag off her foot. By this time, about 15-20 shoppers had gathered around to watch with excitement. Sherry held up the hawk for a few photos, then loaded her up and released her outside.

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Box-building with UTC and Lowe’s

Building bird nesting boxes with the help of Happinest, UTC and Lowe’s

On February 28, 2016 we were fortunate to partner with the Wildlife and Zoology Club at UTC for a box-building day. The members of the Wildlife Club constructed nest boxes for rehabilitated wildlife, under the instruction of local woodworking expert, Tyler Luttrell, of Grain Surgeons, LLC. Lowe’s Home Improvement of Hixson, TN, generously donated all the materials to Happinest. Kate Harrell graciously organized the project.

The nesting boxes are a necessary component of the release process for many rehabilitated animals. The boxes provide a safe place for the animals to nest while they are exploring their new environment. The boxes also remove the stress of competing with other animals for space and nesting resources. Oftentimes, food and water are provided along with the nesting box, so that the newly released animal has the best possible chance for adapting to the wild.

Bird nesting boxes built by UTC Zoology Club

Tyler designed the nesting box plans, and pre-cut the pieces to make assembly as easy as possible for the Wildlife Club. The faculty advisers of the Wildlife Club were also present; Dr. Brad Reynolds and Dr. Tom Wilson are members of the UTC Department of Biology, Geology & Environmental Science and assisted with organizing the event. The UTC students worked in small groups to drill holes, and fit the pieces together, reinforcing the seams with wood glue. Volunteers from Happinest, including Tyler, and the faculty advisers of the Wildlife Club brought power tools for the students who did not have their own.

It was a great day for everyone; twenty nesting boxes were constructed for Happinest. Ten boxes are designed for raptors and ten boxes were designed for squirrels. The students were excited for the opportunity to directly help local rehabilitated wildlife, and Happinest is so grateful for their enthusiasm and interest, as well as their assistance! We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Lowe’s Home Improvement of Hixson for their support, and the UTC Wildlife & Zoology Club for all of their hard work!

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When nature calls…

Some people may go their entire life without ever coming across a wildlife animal in need; but others are faced with the decision to step in to help on many occasions.

Charlie Benton, a truck driver, has become a familiar face at Happinest because of all the wildlife he has rescued since 2012. The first was a screech owl that fell out of the grill of a semi at a truck stop. Later, he saved a lifeless American Robin hit by a car, a severely injured Canada Goose, a male House Finch sickened by conjunctivitis at his own bird feeder and an orphaned baby raccoon. Charlie called Happinest when he found the tiny raccoon and Sherry referred him to a licensed rehabber who specialized in rabies vector species. He drove two hours out of town to make sure the raccoon received the care it needed.

Weeks ago, on February 9, Charlie’s GPS guided him 24 miles out of the way in Bristol. When he stopped to turn around, he noticed an American Robin lying upside down on the side of the road…it was as if the GPS took him out of the way for a reason. He picked up the injured bird, wrapped it in his jacket, and again, contacted Sherry at Happinest for advice. The Robin was lethargic and in shock, so he placed him in the cab of the truck and turned up the heat to warm him up as advised. Amazingly, the Robin perked up and was admitted at Happinest later that same day. The robin has a broken right wing and slight head trauma, but thanks to the steps Charlie took to save this bird, he is expected to make a full recovery.