Are Hawks Afraid of People

[chickengeorgeto]

In the dim dark past a hawk would not sit still on a power line while a car drove down the road. You see there were too many people who would gladly shoot the raptor off his perch.

Today hawks have lost all fear of humans. One poster on this forum reported a hawk swooping into the run to nab a chicken when the owner opened the door to gather the eggs.

I believe in a place for everything and everything and everything in it's place.

Sooner or later you will be confronted with the choice of whether you want to raise chickens or chicken hawks.

 

[centrarchid]

In my experience they are wary of humans and similar looking critters. When in heat of chase they are not as aware of what is going on around them unless something is moving. They can learn humans are not an active threat but they can learn you are as well. Yes, they will hang on to a victim tight, especially during hunt cycle here still trying to dispatch catch, after that they will let go easily. I have done some hawk snatching, usually when hawk somehow stuck in a pen to see differences.

 

[pnwoldie]

Same with the deer, chickengeorgeto. Where i grew up a lot of people hunted for venison and if a deer ever saw you, it vanished immediately. They can sure sprint, its like they are flying through the air. Now they stand there like you are in their territory. Just looking at you. And we live pretty far out in the country.