Having hawks frequent your property can be alarming for homeowners who fear for the safety of their pets or livestock. Though they are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, there are ways to deter hawks from targeting your home as a hunting ground without harming them. The key is understanding why hawks may be drawn to your yard and then using humane hazing or exclusion tactics to convince them to hunt elsewhere. With some knowledge and patience, you can maintain a yard safe for pets and poultry while respecting the hawks’ natural behaviors and place in the ecosystem.
Why are hawks coming to my yard?
Hawks are birds of prey that hunt small animals like rodents, reptiles, amphibians and birds. They frequent backyards because these provide attractive habitat and abundant prey options. Specific factors that may attract hawks include:
- Feeders stocked with bird seed, which draw songbirds that hawks prey on.
- Chicken coops or runs housing backyard poultry.
- Koi ponds or backyard fish habitats that attract frogs, snakes and rodents.
- Areas of dense brush or tall grass that provide cover for voles, mice and other small mammals.
- Open sight lines such as fence tops or rooftops that allow hawks to spot potential prey.
In addition, ample nesting sites like tall trees may encourage hawks to settle in an area. Hawks are highly territorial during nesting season, so nests near a yard will lead to frequent hawk sightings.
What types of hawks may be involved?
There are many hawk species found throughout North America, but some more commonly frequent backyards including:
Cooper’s hawk
Smaller accipiter hawks that specialize in hunting bird prey. Mainly gray-blue upperparts and pale underparts with reddish barring.
Sharp-shinned hawk
Very similar to Cooper’s hawks but slightly smaller. These woodland hawks prey on small birds, mice and amphibians.
Red-tailed hawk
A large soaring hawk with distinctive red tail feathers. Frequently seen perching on poles or circling high on thermals. Will prey on rodents, rabbits and reptiles.
Red-shouldered hawk
Similar size to red-tails but with black and white checkered wing pattern. These woodland hawks eat small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates.
Identifying the hawks around your home will help you understand their behavior patterns and likely targets. Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks, for example, will be attracted to backyard bird activity.
When are hawks most active?
Hawks are most active hunting during the warmer months when prey is abundant. April through September are peak activity times.
In spring, hawks are busy establishing breeding territories and nesting. At this time they will be very active chasing intruders from their territory.
Throughout summer, parents will be busy catching prey to feed demanding nestlings. Young hawks also start honing their own hunting skills in early summer.
Activity drops in winter when some species migrate south and prey becomes scarcer. However, permanent resident hawks remain active all year.
Times of day when hawks are busiest hunting:
- Early morning as birds and rodents start their daily activity.
- Late afternoon as diurnal animals return to roosts and nests.
High activity periods mean more potential for hawk-human conflicts. Focus deterrents during warmer months and peak hunting times.
Legal status of hawks
All North American hawks are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes it illegal to harm, harass, possess, or interfere with hawks, their nests, or eggs.
You can face fines starting at $300 per individual hawk or egg for violating the MBTA. Only licensed wildlife professionals can legally trap, handle or use exclusion measures on hawks.
Lethal control of hawks is only legal with a permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This requires proof that specific hawks are causing serious damage to agriculture, property or human health and safety.
For liability reasons, it is best to focus on non-lethal hazing or exclusion of hawks from your yard. Monitoring hawk activity and reporting concerns to wildlife authorities is also recommended.
How to identify hawk threats
Not all hawks pose equal risk. As raptors, hawks are built to hunt prey smaller than themselves.
The most potentially threatening hawks for homeowners are:
Cooper’s hawks
Agile accipiter hawks that can navigate dense vegetation and close quarters. Mainly hunt birds up to quail-sized. May attack pets or poultry near feeders.
Sharp-shinned hawks
Small but fierce accipiters. Capable of entering coops or enclosures to snatch chicken or exotic pet prey.
Red-tailed hawks
Large open country hawks. Usually prey on mammals but may target free-range poultry. Most often a threat to unsupervised backyard chickens.
Other species like broad-winged or red-shouldered hawks are unlikely to be high-risk predators. Focus deterrents on known bird predators. Monitor hawk activity near coops or runs and take action at the first sign of interest.
How to deter hawks from your yard
Here are the main humane, non-lethal methods to deter hawks:
Remove hunting perches
Hawks use elevated perches to scan for prey. Remove poles, fences, low branches, wires or ledges they may use as hunting vantage points. Trim vegetation to reduce cover.
Eliminate food attractants
Clean up fallen fruit, seed hulls under feeders, and anything else drawing in prey like rodents. Remove bird and nectar feeders seasonally or bring in at night when hawks are most active. Keep compost enclosed and pet food indoors. Enclose or cover fish ponds and backyard poultry runs.
Use decoys and deterrents
Place decoy predators like fake owls or hawk effigies around your property. Reflective deterrents like old CDs hung can startle hawks and make them feel exposed.
Make loud noises
Use loud sounds or ultrasonic devices to scare off actively hunting hawks. Pyrotechnics like screamers, bangers or flash bombs can also deter them but check local noise ordinances first.
Release predator scents
Use predator urines or scat sprays made from coyotes, foxes etc. around your yard. These make hawks feel unsafe lingering in the area. Avoid harming non-target wildlife with widespread spraying.
Keep pets and poultry supervised
Don’t leave small pets or poultry out unattended, especially at dawn and dusk when hawks are most active. Keep coops and runs fully enclosed with wire tops and mesh skirting.
How to exclude hawks from your property
Along with active hazing methods, you can use exclusion techniques to physically deny hawks access to your yard. Only undertake exclusion if hawks pose a serious predatory threat.
Netting
Netting over pens, coops or ponds can create protective barriers from overhead attacks. Ensure netted areas have no openings where birds could become trapped. Use high-tensile mesh anchored well to prevent sagging.
Mesh gauge | Use |
---|---|
1/2 inch mesh | Exclude large hawks from coops or runs |
1 inch mesh | Cover fish ponds or bird feeders |
2-3 inch mesh | Protect small pet or bird enclosures |
Overhead wire grid
Crisscrossing wire grid over enclosures can prevent hawk attacks. Use high-tensile wire or monofilament line spaced 5-10 inches apart depending on mesh size needed. Slope grids at least 45 degrees outward.
Bird spike strips
Deter perching on ledges, peaks, poles etc. Use mild stainless steel or plastic spikes spaced 2-4 inches apart. Ensure spikes are tall enough to exclude hawk’s feet or body (3-6 inches).
Reflective ribbon
Use metallic reflective ribbon at least 1 inch wide to make open spans or fences visually unappealing for perching or nesting. Keep reflective ribbons moving by hanging loosely and allowing to twist and spin.
When to get help with hawks
In most cases, using a combination of the above techniques will successfully convince hawks to avoid your yard. It may take 1-2 weeks of consistent application and reinforcement before they fully leave the area.
If hawks still persistently target your pets or livestock despite your best efforts, it is time to reach out for professional assistance. Licensed wildlife control experts can legally:
- Install overhead wire grid systems over large spans.
- Use pyrotechnics like propane cannons or shell crackers.
- Trap and relocate habitual bird predators.
- Obtain permits for removing problematic nests.
They can also provide guidance on modifying habitats to be less hawk-friendly. Permanent solutions like rehoming backyard chickens may be considered if hawk predation is ongoing.
Important reminders when deterring hawks
When dealing with nuisance hawk issues, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Never use illegal or inhumane harassment methods like poisons, shooting, or traps that can cause injury.
- Avoid excessive disturbance to nests during critical breeding season (February through July typically).
- Only allow properly trained professionals to handle or physically remove hawks.
- Follow all state and federal laws – the MBTA protects all hawk species.
- Report any persistent problem nests or aggressiveness from individual hawks to authorities.
With judicious use of deterrents and exclusion measures, you can convince unwelcome hawks to move on humanely and legally. Patience and commitment to non-lethal control methods are key to successfully coexisting with these aerial predators.
Conclusion
Having frequent hawk visitors to your yard can be worrisome but does not necessitate drastic action in most cases. Understanding why hawks are drawn to your property and how to reduce attractants is the first step. Integrating active hazing techniques like decoys, noises and spraying predator scents can effectively discourage hawks from lingering. Exclusion measures like overhead netting and wire grids provide extra protection if needed for vulnerable pets or poultry. With a thoughtful, humane approach you can achieve a safe compromise for both homeowners and hawks. If all efforts fail to deter aggressive hawks pursuing backyard prey, professional wildlife control assistance may be warranted. But in many situations, simply making your yard a less accommodating hunting ground will convince hawks to move on and seek food elsewhere. With some knowledge of hawk behavior and ecology, you can find non-lethal ways to discourage their presence that also prevent property damage or loss of pets. Achieving this aligned goal is both the legally and ethically best practice for successful coexistence.