When volunteer wildlife rescuer Tracy spotted a troubling Facebook post from a local resident in Palm Bay, she knew she had to act fast.
The man explained that he’d found a hawk stranded on the ground, unable to fly. The bird appeared weak and helpless, and it was clear something was terribly wrong.
Tracy immediately suggested calling the local wildlife hotline, but when no one answered, she didn’t wait around. She jumped in her car and headed straight to the scene herself.
By the time she arrived, the hawk was still alive, but his behavior seemed strange.
“The hawk wasn't moving at all,” WILD Florida Rescue later shared on Facebook. Tracy leaned in to get a closer look, trying to figure out what was preventing the bird from moving.
Then, out of nowhere, something moved beside her hand.
At first startled, Tracy quickly realized the hawk wasn’t alone. A snake had wrapped itself tightly around the bird’s neck and wing.
“She went to fold its wing in and grab it when she saw a snake moving around the hawk’s neck,” the rescue group explained.
Despite the shock, Tracy stayed calm. Knowing every second mattered, she carefully grabbed the snake and slowly began unwinding it from the trapped hawk.
“She had to use both hands to gently unwrap the snake,” the organization wrote.
No one knows exactly how long the hawk had been tangled up with the snake, but thankfully, Tracy arrived just in time.
The moment the snake was removed, the hawk immediately regained his strength.
“When untangled, the hawk flew away strong and fast!” the rescuers shared. “The snake appeared unharmed as well and was released.”
The team at WILD Florida Rescue typically tries to avoid interfering with nature whenever possible. But in rare situations like this, where a predator-prey encounter turns dangerous for both animals, stepping in can save lives.
For Tracy, helping animals in need is simply part of the job.
“Tracy did what she’s trained to do: provide aid to those who need it,” the rescue group wrote. “Everyone is gonna be just fine!”
To help wildlife get the care they need, you can donate to WILD Florida Rescue here.
