Residents of a quiet Hertfordshire village are being terrorised by a Harris’s hawk that has been attacking people since November.
The bird of prey has targeted at least 12 people in Flamstead, causing head wounds and prompting an increase in tetanus jab requests at the local doctor’s surgery.
Tall men appear to be particularly at risk from the South American hawk, which has evaded capture for months.
The bird, roughly twice the size of a common pigeon, has brought havoc to the village of just 1,400 people.
The South American hawk (not pictured) has evaded capture for months
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Efforts are now underway to humanely trap the feathery assailant.
Graeme Elliot, who is standing as a Hertfordshire county councillor, told MailOnline he has been attacked three times in just one week.
“I felt a massive thud on the back of my head, and I thought what is that?” recalled Elliot. “I put my hand on my head, and I thought, ‘Oh, there’s blood!'”
The hawk struck him again just two days later, drawing even more blood.
“I played rugby for 30 years and I don’t think I ever got a bang on the head like that!” he said.
The bird has become “quite a talking point” in the previously little-known village.
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The bird of prey has targeted at least 12 people in Flamstead
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Roy Lambden, 68, had a close encounter with the hawk on March 2, which was captured on his home CCTV.
“It attacks from behind and you’re surprised, you suddenly get a whack on the head – a number of people get their heads cut,” he said.
The bird has even attacked a dog, according to Gordon Riley, 69, who was also swooped upon.
“I could feel it on the back of my neck. If I had had my arm out it would have landed on that,” Riley said.
“You can’t hear it until it is actually on top of you. It just sweeps from behind.”
A local falconer, who wished to remain anonymous, has been attempting to catch the bird humanely since it began hurting people.
“I want to find him a home with someone who’s going to look after him,” the falconer said.
Barbara Royle, of the Independent Bird Register, suggested the bird’s aggressive behaviour might be seasonal.
Men in the village have taken to wearing hats for protection when venturing outdoors
Flickr
“It’s the start of the breeding season. I’m not saying it thinks men are mates but they do get territorial,” she explained.
The hawk has leather straps on its legs, indicating it escaped from captivity.
Whipsnade Zoo, just a few miles away, confirmed the bird is not one of theirs.
Men in the village have taken to wearing hats for protection when venturing outdoors.
Len D’Silva was spotted wearing a bright orange hat while walking his dog Jenga after his wife texted him a warning.
“A lot of people in Flamstead are worried about him attacking them, mainly men,” he said.
The Harris’s hawk, which has a wingspan of up to 4ft, is one of the most common falconry birds in the UK.
They can live up to 12 years in the wild or 25 years in captivity.
The bird’s high intelligence has made the species popular for falconry, including controlling pigeon populations.