Meeteetse

Meeteetse Moments Continue...

Just after spotting this brave little hawk, we took a picture in case nobody would believe this encounter in Meeteetse. We thought he would fly off quickly. Anne Price, REFCurator, is pictured just a few feet from the "Sharpie."

If you know Meeteetse, you know this is right next to their chocolate shop.

The two people shown are actually the owners of the car next to the hawk. They spent a considerable time taking pictures and then quietly rolled their car backwards to allow the hawk to continue undisturbed.

Holding onto his hard earned meal...

An hour and a half later, around 7pm, we realized that it was getting dark, and our presence was expected at a dinner across the street. Peter had heard a great horned owl the previous morning barely half a mile from where we now stood, and several town residents confirmed that there was at least one pair hunting in town. The sharpie was terribly vulnerable in his current position. Against all odds of success, but hoping at least to keep him out of traffic, Peter slowly crept up to him, and unbelievably, was able to pick up the sparrow, with the tiny hawk holding on. We moved him off the curb and main drag through town, and around the corner in to an alley. Twice, he tried to fly off with his kill, but he was very weak and didn’t go more than ten or so feet. Finally, not wanting to disturb and stress him further, we left him close to a building in some tall grass, and headed across the street to the café where everyone gave us both a hard time for being late, as well as some words of thanks for at least attempting to remove the hawk from danger.

Less than an hour later, we got word that he had been hit by a car, and was lying in the street. He had then been picked up, and placed on a bench outside the restaurant. Anne rushed out and found him crouched down on his heels, pupils dilated. She brought him inside, and as luck would have it, not only did there appear to be no external injuries, but there was also a physician present who looked at his eyes, as well as a Wyoming Game and Fish Non-Game Bird Specialist who examined his keel, the breastbone to which the flight muscles attach. All present agreed that this little guy was terribly thin and underweight. More disheartening, he did not have much food in his crop, the sac for temporary storage of food beneath the throat. It seemed clear that something or someone had spooked him off his sparrow dinner, but being so thin and underweight, he was unable to avoid a car.

Despite making it through the night in a box and a warm room, and being transported by WY Game & Fish to Ironside Bird Rescue in Cody the next morning, he died within 20 minutes of receiving emergency fluids and calories. Anne spoke with Sue Ahalt, Director of Ironside Bird Rescue on Tuesday, and found out that his admission weight was only 2.1 ounces, approximately half of what a five-month old male sharp-shinned hawk should weigh. As Ms. Ahalt astutely observed, “We know that 80% of them don’t make it and die, but it’s never easy when the death is right there in front of you.”

It was sad, after-the fact ending to an otherwise outstanding weekend. The wonderful, diverse community of Meeteetse welcomed us and we enjoyed the thoughtful, informative discussions on everything from wolves, to ferrets, to peregrine falcons, other endangered wildlife, migrating hawks, and big bears. The next time you decide to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, make sure you take the northern route out of Casper, heading through the stunning Wind River Canyon, through Thermopolis, and into the friendly, interesting, and beautiful town of Meeteetse, WY.

Special thanks to Mark Konishi of Wyoming Game & Fish, and Bob and Sherry Long of the Oasis Motel, and the many sponsors of REF’s appearance Sept 23-26.

Thanks Again to Our Sponsors:

Oasis Motel & RV Park

Park County Travel Council

Dr. & Mrs. Larry Todd

Bill and Barbara Mason

Edward Porter Family

Wind River Casinos

Marathon Oil Company, Cody Division

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