In the peak of summer, when desert temperatures soared above 110 degrees, we received a call about a young red-tailed hawk found grounded and struggling in the heat. He was weak, panting, and dangerously dehydrated, his feathers ruffled and eyes dull. The intense sun had taken its toll, and without immediate help, he wouldn’t have survived much longer.
At our center, we moved quickly to stabilize him. Fluids, shade, and rest were his first treatments, followed by a carefully balanced diet to help him regain strength. Over the next few weeks, we watched him transform, his posture straightened, his eyes regained their fierce spark, and his powerful wings began to stretch with renewed energy. Once he was strong enough to soar again, we returned him to the wild, not far from where he was found. He took to the sky effortlessly, catching the wind like he was always meant to, a true symbol of resilience in the desert sun.