Meet my new friend, Mouse. The introduction was a little rocky; I was down at the farm when a large ball of feathers and talons swooped head-on into me. I've been charged by moose, chased by sea lions, run into bears, and had dozens of other wildlife encounters when I lived in Alaska, but being attacked by a hawk was a new experience... so I advanced to a more strategic position rather quickly. (Umm, yeah, that's pronounced "ree-treet-ed"...) One more pass and she settled on an old steel tank frame. Upon looking closer I saw jesses on her legs - she wasn't a wild bird, but a lost one. With a remarkable lack of foresight I stuck out my arm and whistled... and she flew over and landed on my arm. OK, I have a large, hungry hawk on my arm... no glove, no hood, no tether, no food, no clue... next? After about an hour with the hawk on one arm and cellphone in the other hand, I tracked her back to a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center, and took her home. She'd been loose for a month after a large snow had damaged her cage. She's home and safe now.

If you've never had the fortune to have a bird of prey sit on on arm, I humbly suggest visiting a raptor center or display that has a 'hands on' program. As a human hunter looking into the eyes of one's Nature' most efficient hunters, sitting that close, watching the talons flex on your arm... well, just go do do it. You'll understand.

LG