SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A wildlife group says a hawk found weak and flightless in Utah apparently had his wing feathers cut by someone who'd been keeping it as a pet after illegally capturing it.
HawkWatch International says the young Cooper's hawk is recovering at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah.
He unable to fly when he was found because all 44 of his flight feathers were cut, apparently with scissors.
The group says the feathers will regrow, but the bird may never recover enough to be released into the wild.
Capturing, harming or disturbing wild birds violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
