PHOTOS: Hawk Sighting in Malden Square Monday

A brown hawk was perched in a tree on the Pleasant Street side of the senior center at about 7:45 Monday morning. Previous hawk sightings have been reported at the Davenport Estate and Malden High School, both on Salem Street.

"We actually picked one up a few weeks ago," Animal Control Officer Kevin Alkins said. "They take care of the pigeon problem."

While there have been some instances of hawks attacking small pets and even people, Alkins said such behavior is extremely unusual for the breed. 

"They are pretty limited to pigeons, rodents rats...never heard of a cat or anything like that (in Malden)," he said. "They serve a purpose in ridding downtown of dirty birds and things like that." 

Atkins sent along pictures of a rehabilitated hawk let back into the wild last year.