Hawk released back into the wild after being injured, rescued by police at Lake County forest preserve

A hawk was released into the wild Sunday several months after he was found injured by a car and rescued by police at a Lake County forest preserve.

Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation said an adult Red-tailed hawk underwent approximately four months of rehabilitation.

The organization is a licensed non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center based in Barrington that cares for injured and orphaned wildlife.

He was released on Sunday after being declared fully healthy.

The Lake County Forest Preserves Police rescued the hawk after he was hit by a car near one of the forest preserves.

He suffered head and body trauma from being struck by the car.

The hawk also had signs of subcutaneous hemorrhaging consistent with secondary rodenticide poisoning, Flint Creek said.

Officials believe a resident from one of the many houses bordering the forest preserve was using rodenticide poison at their house.

“His treatment was long and his recovery was slow, but fortunately he was determined to live,” Flint Creek Wildlife said.

The hawk ironically may not have survived the rodenticide poisoning had he not been hit by the car and ultimately rescued.

“We are grateful to Lake County Forest Preserve Police for bringing this Red-tailed Hawk to us for treatment and for authorizing us to release it back in their Forest Preserve today,” Flint Creek Wildlife said.