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A Florida cop doubled as an animal control officer by rescuing a hawk that was trapped in a screened-in pool enclosure on Monday.
In a video posted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, police said an elderly resident called the 911 dispatch centre to report the trapped hawk.
Bodycam footage shows a female officer holding a catch net in one hand and a long pole in her other gloved hand as she approaches the frightened creature.
She quickly captures the animal in the net and takes the animal out of the resident’s yard to a wooded area across the street.
The scared hawk has its beak latched firmly on the officer’s gloved hand as she tries to release it.
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Patience pays off
“Baby, gotta let go,” the cop tells the bird, eventually slipping her hand out of the glove so she can untangle the bird of prey from the net.
“Let go so you can be free, please,” the officer pleads.
With a bit of patience, she finally coaxes the hawk out. It stares at her with its wings spread.
“You should be okay. Just a little startled?” the cop asks the bird, which flies off soon after.
Who to call for Florida wildlife issues
While the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office frequently deals with wildlife calls, its website says 911 calls are for emergencies only.
The public is urged to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regarding hurt, orphaned or nuisance animals.