Flint Creek Helps Remove Squirrel Stuck Down Hawk's Throat

LAKE COUNTY, IL — An animal rehabilitation center in Lake County recently helped a hawk that found itself in a precarious situation after it attempted to swallow a squirrel whole.

Hawks typically tear off pieces from prey that is large, but this particular red-tailed hawk decided to bite off more than it could chew — literally, Flint Creek officials told Patch Tuesday.

Lake County Animal Control found and captured the hawk, which had the squirrel stuck partially down its throat, with the rest hanging out of its mouth, Dawn Keller, founder and directorwith Flint Creek Rehabilitation Center in Barrington, told Patch.

The hawk was unable to fly, and the squirrel was dead when the hawk was brought to Flint Creek, according to Keller.

After being admitted to Flint Creek, all of the tissue that was extending past the hawk's throat was removed so the hawk could swallow the rest of the squirrel, according to Flint Creek officials. She was able to digest the squirrel, and it took her a couple weeks after to regain her strength and to be reconditioned before being released back to the wild, Keller said.