Through the Grill and Back Again
Last week we had an unexpected visitor at the clinic — not the usual kind who walks in on four legs. A lovely member of the public arrived understandably shaken after accidentally hitting a hawk while out on a test drive. The impact had sent the bird straight through the front grill of her car, wings outstretched across the bumper like a giant, feathered butterfly.
Unsure what to do and worried for the hawk’s wellbeing, she came to us for help.
Our Veterinarian, Cole, headed out to assess the situation, with Veterinary Nurse Nadine assisting. The hawk was stressed, scared and firmly wedged in place. Cole administered pain relief and a light sedation so the team could work safely and gently.
Once the hawk was calm, Nadine and Cole formulated a plan. “Because the grill had been smashed and with careful handling, we were able to fold the wings back into a natural position and manoeuvre them through the damaged grill, reducing strain on the bird’s body and allowing the wings to sit in a more natural position.”
Freeing the hawk from the grill turned out to be only the first challenge. Once its wings were safely folded back into place, we discovered the bird was still firmly wedged between the radiator and the surrounding panels. Both the upper and lower access points were sealed — there was no safe way to reach the hawk from inside the engine bay.
So! the rescue team took an unexpected detour… to the workshop.
With the grill already damaged, the lovely mechanic carefully cut it open to create enough space for extraction. Once the final piece came free, our Veterinary Nurse was able to gently lift the hawk out and bring it back into the clinic for a full assessment.
What happened next was nothing short of astonishing.
Despite the dramatic impact, the entrapment, and the sheer force involved, the hawk had sustained NO major injuries! After a dramatic ordeal, the hawk spent a quiet night in the clinic recovering — likely with a bit of a headache and plenty to think about. He rested well, had food on hand and by morning was bright‑eyed and far wilder.
A follow‑up assessment in the morning confirmed what we were all hoping for: fit for release! With just a final dose of pain relief to ensure a comfortable transition back to the wild, the team prepared for the big moment.
The instant the towel was unwrapped, he launched out with absolute gusto. He climbed effortlessly into the sky, circled overhead in a few confident loops as if to get his bearings — or perhaps to say a quick thank‑you — and then flew off toward the sunset, free once more.
A remarkable ending for a remarkable rescue.
Links to the news articles
STUFF: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360962956/remarkable-survival-after-hawk-trapped-car-grille
NZ HERALD/ HB TODAY: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/hawkes-bay-hawk-miraculously-survives-after-being-hit-by-a-woman-test-driving-an-suv/GZ4TZULUKBGZHENB2LIQR6LNAU/
ONE NEWS: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/10/firmly-wedged-hawk-freed-from-car-grille-in-astonishing-rescue/
Photos and written by
Nadine Hook
RVN
