Firefighters, Animal Control Help Hawk on Pfizer Roof

Fire and animal control officials responded to help a lethargic, dehydrated and probably injured red-tailed hawk on Thursday morning after the bird was spotted on the roof of the Pfizer building on Giralda Farms.

The Madison Fire Department responded with its ladder truck, and an animal control officer from Millburn, which provides animal control services for Madison, climbed the ladder up to the bird.

As the animal control officer got near, the hawk, apparently unable to fly, glided to the ground. Firefighters and the animal control officer put a blanket over the hawk, placed it in a box and the animal control officer took the bird to the Raptor Trust in the Millington section of Long Hill, Fire Chief Lou DeRosa said.

Cathy Malok, senior rehabilitator with the trust, said the hawk was a juvenile and was dehydrated, lethargic and probably has a wing injury. She said the trust will give the bird X-rays after it stabilizes to determine the extent of any injuries. Such problems could develop from an accident, being clipped by a car, or not hunting well enough, she said.

She said the trust appreciates that the fire department responded with its truck to help out.