PATIENT:  Red-tailed Hawk, #10-2304

LOCATION OF RESCUE:  Mathews County, Virginia

CONDITION:   Emaciated, anemic

ADMISSION DATE:  December 30, 2010

OUTCOME:  Died January 5

On December 29, a Red-tailed Hawk was spotted on the ground in a yard in Mathews County, Virginia.  A local animal control officer responded to a call from the homeowners and picked up the hawk; the bird was transported to the Wildlife Center of Virginia the next day.

When the Red-tailed Hawk was admitted on December 30, it was extremely emaciated, dehydrated, and weak.  A small retinal tear was also found in the hawk’s left eye.  An emergency diagnostic blood test was performed.  Results showed that the bird was severely anemic, that is, the bird’s red blood-cell count was low — in this case, critically low.  Dr. Miranda Sadar decided that the best course of action for the hawk would be to receive a blood transfusion. 

While any bird could serve as a blood donor (at least for the first transfusion), the best results would come from a donor of the same species.  Since most of the other Red-tailed Hawks at the Wildlife Center are injured and in recovery, the veterinary staff turned toward our educational animal ambassadors.  Scarlette was elected as the best hawk for the job, since she’s a rather large, feisty, and healthy Red-tailed Hawk. 

After the blood draw, Dr. Miranda declared, “Scarlette was a great donor!  She’ll stay overnight in the hospital to rest, get fluids, and have a meal – similar to how human blood donors get juice and cookies!” 

Red-tailed Hawk #10-2304 did well throughout the transfusion process and became more alert the following day — and even a little feisty. 

While additional blood tests on January 2 revealed that the red blood cell count is still low, there has been improvement since the hawk first arrived at the Center.  Unfortunately, another vital component of the bird’s blood — the total protein — is still quite low.  The veterinary staff has continued giving fluids to the bird as well as delivering other important blood treatments through a catheter.  As of Monday, January 3, the hawk was slightly depressed and was moved to the avian critical care chamber. 

If the bird stabilizes, radiographs will be taken later this week.

January 6 update

Despite looking brighter and more alert on January 4, unfortunately, Red-tailed Hawk #10-2304 died the following night. 

Through the Center’s Caring for Critters program, you can “adopt” Scarlette … or one of the Center’s other education animals.  Your Caring for Critters donation helps provide food, shelter, and medical care for the sponsored animal and helps provide state-of-the-art emergency care to thousands of animals admitted to the Wildlife Center each year.