Injured Hawk Seeks Refuge in Taxi During Hurricane Harvey

With Hurricane Harvey moving through Texas over the weekend and dropping 30 inches or more of rain in Houston – leaving the city literally under water in certain areas – one clever cooper’s hawk sought refuge from the storm in a taxi cab.

Taxi driver William Bruso was picking up supplies and gearing up for the storm in Corpus Christi on August 25 when he noticed the unexpected passenger was in the back seat. Bruso posted a video to his YouTube page showing the hurricane hawk that swooped into his cab through an open door.

The video went viral reaching almost 282,000 views (as of publication).

“Guys, this cooper (sic) hawk – really pretty fella – has sought refuge in my cab here. He seems to be scared. He doesn’t know what’s going on. Hurricane Harvey is getting ready to barrel down through over here and he just kinda hopped on in and doesn’t want to leave,” said Bruso.

Bruso, who named him ‘Harvey the Hurricane Hawk’ didn’t want to force the bird of prey out, as it “was kind of comfortable and cozy right now.” The Lone Star Cab driver posted a video journal of Harvey with eight updates from the cab to Bruso’s home. Harvey the hawk seemed to be more afraid of the impending storm than of the man, happily perched on the cab’s dashboard in “Update 4” as Bruso drove Harvey to his home in Magnolia.

Bruso arrived home with the hurricane hawk clutched to the outside of the cab door.

“Harvey you gotta go buddy, seriously,” he said in the “Update 2” video. After slipping on some protective gloves, the bird jumps onto Bruso’s hand and allows the man to pet it.

With each video diary Harvey became more “chillaxed” with his human host who further dubbed him, “Sergeant Hurricane Harvey the Hawk.” Hunkered down in Bruso’s bar room, he fed him raw chicken hearts off a stick, mostly concerned for the bird’s well-being.

“He may need proffesional (sic) help to maybe rehabilitate him. I just don’t feel its this normal for a predator bird who is a killer like this majestic hawk has any businesses taking up sanctuary with any human on his own free will. So his best interest is VERY much, 1000% extremely concerning too me,” he wrote.

Bruso took care of Harvey until the evening of August 26 when the bird was picked up by Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition (TWRC), an animal shelter in Houston.

“Everyone knows he’s in good hands,” Bruso said in the video as Harvey was carted off by rescuer Ivory Rose.

The fate of Harvey lies in the balance until the storm subsides.

“He is currently being treated for an injury that prevents him from flying, but we won’t know the extent of the injury until we can get him to the center for an X-ray. Because the roads are currently impossible due to the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, we were forced to keep the center closed today,” TWRC wrote on Facebook.

The TWRC anticipates many more animals will be brought into the center in need of help from the storm and flooding. You can help here.

If you love humans helping animals in need, please SHARE Harvey the Hurricane Hawk’s story with your friends!