What the hawk? Eau Claire family surprised when hawk flies into their home

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - A family in Eau Claire had quite a surprise Monday morning.

A hawk flew through a window in a home on the north side of the city Monday.

14-year-old Ashlynn Mallett was home when she heard what sounded like glass shattering, and when she went to investigate, she discovered a hawk had flown into the house. The girl then called her father for help to deal with the feathered intruder, which also brought a mouse with it. The hawk was stuck inside of the porch, unable to find its way out on its own through the window it had broken.

“As I was watching TV, I just heard a loud crash through the window and the dog started barking,” Mallett said. “So I walked over and there is a hawk in the porch.”

Eau Claire Animal Control was called to safely get the bird to fly out of the house. In a video shared by the homeowners, the hawk was escorted back outside through an open door by shooing it away with a plastic lid.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, there are 10 types of hawk species that can be spotted in Wisconsin, including six that can typically be found in the Chippewa Valley. More information about birds that can be found in the state is available on the DNR’s website.

Copyright 2022 WEAU. All rights reserved.