'Safe to say it's been dead for a long time': Hawk found by B.C. kids was taxidermy, not in need of rescue
Volunteers at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Delta, B.C., are used to receiving calls about a variety of species, but nothing quite like this.
The OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society took to social media to report that it received an unusual "rescue" call a few weeks ago that turned out to be a taxidermied bird.
"We got a call from a local school that the kids found a dead raptor clinging to a branch. Of course we send out a volunteer to gather the bird to find out more about what species, the cause of death and other points of interest," the post reads.
Martina Versteeg, a raptor care supervisor at the rehabilitation society tells CTV News Vancouver that the unusual discovery was made by students at an elementary school in Abbotsford, who reported it to their principal.
"The principal didn't want the kids poking or playing with it, so she called us," Versteeg says.
When a volunteer went to collect the bird, they found an old taxidermied juvenile red-tailed hawk mounted onto a branch, that was missing its tail and had an air freshener attached to it.
"(Our volunteer) reported back 'safe to say it's been dead for a long time' as it was taxidermied."
While the discovery was bizarre, the rehabilitation centre says the taxidermy hawk is now residing at their facility and may even join their museum as an artifact.
"Permits are required to taxidermy raptors, so we think someone must have had permits at some point for this bird," Versteeg says.
"It is unusual to think about where he came from, who had it and why exactly it was dumped in a bush as it was not in too poor of condition. But the mystery added a lighter tone to what we usually see when we are picking up injured wildlife."
Versteeg adds that the kids and principal did the right thing by calling for help.
"We pick up dead raptors to find out how they died and to share that knowledge with people to reduce our impact on wildlife in the future," she says. "If the (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) doesn't have a plan for this specimen, we will add this bird to our education permit to teach people about raptors and environmental issues."
"(The ministry) sometimes may decide a certain specimen is better suited to another location or museum," Versteeg says.
"They also try to give deceased wildlife back to the local First Nations when appropriate, for ceremonial purposes."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns as companies press lawmakers for state funds
Kansas could soon offer up to US$5 million in grants for schools to outfit surveillance cameras with artificial intelligence systems that can spot people carrying guns. But the governor needs to approve the expenditures and the schools must meet some very specific criteria.
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
'It happened so fast': Evacuees describe fleeing Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire
Thousands have been forced to flee a wildfire burning near Fort Nelson. Meanwhile, some experienced volunteers are staying behind to fight the fire.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Cohen expected to take the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.