Birds of Prey

Urban Hawk Nesting Success and Human Coexistence

Urban-nesting hawks like red-tailed and Cooper hawks have adapted to city life but face unique welfare challenges from human disturbance and urban hazards.

Key Facts

Red-tailed hawk populations have increased in urban areas due to abundant prey
Urban hawks face higher rates of collision with vehicles and buildings than rural counterparts
Rat poison used in urban areas accumulates in raptors that consume poisoned prey
Cooper hawks nesting in suburban trees experience significant human disturbance during breeding

Welfare Considerations

Urban raptors face a range of welfare challenges including anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning from consuming poisoned rats and mice, window collisions, and nest disturbance during critical breeding periods. Second-generation rodenticides like brodifacoum cause prolonged internal hemorrhaging, representing a severe welfare impact on both the targeted rodents and the raptors that consume them.

What You Can Do

Use humane rodent control methods that do not involve second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides
Respect disturbance exclusion zones around active hawk nests
Apply bird-safe window film to reduce collision risk for urban raptors
Support monitoring programs tracking urban raptor health and rodenticide exposure