Federally-Protected Red-Tailed Hawk Rescued By Branford Animal Shelter Was Repeatedly Shot With Lead BBs

BRANFORD, CT — Shot three times with lead BBs, a federally-protected red-tailed hawk was rescued by Animal Control Officers from the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter on Wednesday. The raptor also suffered a broken wing, both diagnoses confirmed by wildlife rehabilitators A Place Called Hope in Killingworth, where the rescued raptor was taken.

In a Facebook post, the refuge for injured, orphaned, sick or non-releasable birds of prey, called the shooting "intentional."

"It’s emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting to continue to watch animals in our community and throughout our state be harmed," said shelter director Laura Burban.

According to the law, and as Burban and APCH noted, "Let me repeat, up to $15,000 fines per count and up to six months jail time if caught."

"These birds are federally protected and even if you believe you are protecting your livestock, you can’t just shoot them," the post reads.

Burban said the injured hawk, who is estimated to be one to two years old, was found on Cherry Hill Road on Wednesday at around 10 a.m.

"Animal control officers are going door-to-door in the area just to talk to people, to see if anyone has been complaining about hawks near their chickens or other livestock," she said. "We have opened an investigation into who is responsible for this."

According to Burban, in the last year, the state has "seen an increase of animal cruelty of nearly 40 percent."

"We need to change the penalties for harming or killing animals," she said. "Enough’s enough of animal cruelty."