24-05-2025
Baby hawk rescued from Chatham highway
PITTSBORO — Thanks to the quick thinking and teamwork of two Chatham County Sheriff's Office employees, a young hawk is safe and receiving care after a dangerous brush with traffic.
CCSO Investigator Jon Murray was heading home after his shift on May 15 when something unusual caught his eye near the intersection of NC 22 and NC 42. Sitting motionless in the road was a baby hawk, vulnerable as vehicles passed close by.
'It wasn't trying to fly away,' Murray said. 'It just sat there while cars went right by it.'
Realizing the bird was likely injured or too young to fly, Murray carefully secured it in a blanket and contacted the Chatham County Sheriff's Animal Resource Center for assistance.
Animal Resource Officer Justin Green responded and took custody of the hawk, which appeared to have fallen from its nest. Green transported the raptor to Holly's Nest Animal Rescue, a local licensed wildlife rehabilitation center, where it will remain until it's old enough to survive on its own.
'We're grateful Jon spotted it when he did,' Green said.
Holly's Nest, 309 Lazy Waters Lane north of Sanford, specializes in the care and rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife and partners regularly with local agencies to ensure animals receive the help they need.
