Red-Tailed Hawk Catches Rabbit, Falconer Spends Next 40 Minutes Explaining to Hikers That This Is Legal

What should have been a routine hunting outing became a 40-minute public education seminar Tuesday when falconer Deborah Creance's red-tailed hawk, Sherman, caught a cottontail rabbit in full view of a hiking group on a public trail. The hikers, numbering approximately eight, initially watched the stoop with fascination. The mood shifted rapidly when Sherman began the process that falconers euphemistically call 'dispatch' and the general public calls 'oh my God.' 'The first woman screamed,' Creance recounted. 'Which was understandable. The second woman pulled out her phone, which I assumed was to film the bird, but she was actually calling the police. The man in the hiking vest asked if I had a permit. Then everyone started asking questions at once.' Creance produced her federal falconry permit, her state hunting license, her raptor propagation endorsement, and a laminated FAQ card she carries for exactly these situations. 'I had the card printed after the fourth incident,' Creance said. 'It covers the basics: yes, this is legal; no, the bird is not a pet; yes, it will eat the rabbit; no, I cannot make it stop; and no, the bird did not escape from anywhere.' The hikers were reportedly satisfied by the documentation until one member of the group asked, 'But does the bird consent to hunting for you?' Creance paused. 'The bird is a red-tailed hawk,' she said slowly. 'It was hunting before I was born. It hunts when I'm not here. If anything, I am assisting the bird. The bird does not need my consent. I need the bird's cooperation, which it grants or withholds entirely at its own discretion, and today it decided to hunt. You're welcome.' Sherman, who had finished the rabbit during the conversation, flew to Creance's glove and was rewarded with a quail leg. The hikers applauded, which startled Sherman, which startled the hikers. Creance has ordered additional laminated cards.