How to Keep Hawks Away: Practical Methods to Protect Your Backyard

Hawks, a class of predatory birds belonging to the family Accipitridae, are an awe-inspiring sight. Their flight, hunting prowess, and striking features all contribute to their majesty. However, these predators can also threaten small pets, birds, and poultry. When your backyard becomes the hunting ground for a hawk, it becomes a cause for concern. This article is dedicated to understanding and implementing effective, humane strategies to deter these birds and make your backyard a safe haven for its inhabitants.

Why You Might Want to Keep Hawks Away

A keen observer of nature may revel in the sight of hawks soaring overhead. Still, it’s an entirely different story when the soaring turns into hunting in your backyard. There are several reasons why you may want to keep hawks away:

Predatory Nature: Hawks are known for their predatory behavior. If you have smaller pets like guinea pigs, rabbits, or even small breed dogs, they could be potential prey for hawks. Moreover, hawks can pose a serious threat if you raise chickens or enjoy bird watching in your backyard.
Recurrent Attacks: Hawks are creatures of habit. Once they find a reliable food source, they are likely to return. If a hawk has already attacked your backyard, it may return, causing recurrent distress.
Nesting Near Homes: Hawks that nest near homes may become defensive and protective of their territory, especially during breeding season. This could result in hawks acting aggressively towards humans, especially if they perceive a threat to their young.

Protecting your pets and poultry from hawks is a valid concern. However, it’s crucial to remember that hawks are part of the natural ecosystem, and any action taken to deter them should be non-lethal and respectful to these birds.

Understanding Hawks: Behavior and Habits

Before attempting to keep hawks away, it is essential to understand their behavior and habits. This knowledge will help you adopt effective deterrent strategies.

Diurnal Hunters: Unlike owls, hawks are diurnal, which means they are most active during the day. Their primary hunting times are the early morning hours just after dawn and the late afternoon hours before dusk.
Exceptional Vision: Hawks have an incredibly sharp eyesight which they use to spot prey from great heights. A clear line of sight is vital for them to swoop down and catch their prey.
Habitual Creatures: Hawks tend to frequent areas where they’ve had successful hunts in the past. If your backyard has been targeted, it is likely due to an abundance of small animals or birds.
Territorial Nature: During breeding seasons, hawks can become quite territorial. If they’ve built a nest nearby, they may perceive people or pets in your backyard as threats, leading to potential attacks.

Understanding these aspects can be immensely beneficial when planning your strategies to deter hawks.

Legal Aspects of Controlling Hawks

Before you embark on your mission to keep hawks away from your backyard, it’s crucial to understand the legal implications involved. Hawks and other birds of prey are protected under federal law in many countries. In the United States, for example, they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

This legislation states that:

Protection of Hawks: It is illegal to harm, kill, or possess hawks without a permit. This includes their nests and eggs.
Prohibition of Certain Actions: Actions that may lead to the injury or death of hawks, such as shooting, poisoning, or trapping, are strictly prohibited.
Permits and Regulations: Certain types of non-lethal deterrents may also require a permit or could be governed by regulations.

Remember, the goal is to deter hawks from your backyard humanely, not to harm or kill them. It’s always a good idea to consult with a local wildlife agency or a knowledgeable authority to ensure your planned deterrent methods are legal and ethical.

Practical Ways to Keep Hawks Away

Once you understand the habits of hawks and the legalities involved, you can begin to implement various tactics to deter them from your backyard. Remember, the goal is to create an uncomfortable environment for hawks without causing them any harm. Here are some strategies you can utilize:

Scare Tactics

Scare tactics work well because they exploit the hawks’ natural aversion to certain elements. There are several you can use:

Use Noise Makers: Devices like wind chimes or even tin cans strung together can create unpredictable noise, which can deter hawks.
Hang Reflective Objects: Shiny, reflective objects can scare away hawks. You can hang aluminum foil, CDs, or metallic balloons around your backyard.
Motion-Activated Sprinklers: These sprinklers can scare away hawks with sudden movements and sprays of water.

Shelters and Covers

Shelters and covers can help protect potential prey and deter hawks:

Birdhouses and Shelters: If you keep birds, ensure you have a covered birdhouse or aviary to provide a safe space for them.
Covered Runs for Chickens: A covered run can be a great investment if you raise chickens. The top cover ensures that hawks cannot swoop directly onto the chickens.
Hideouts for Small Pets: Ensure that your small pets have hideouts or burrows where they can quickly take shelter if a hawk is spotted.

Landscape Modification

Modifying your landscape can also help keep hawks away. Here’s how:

Plant Trees: Planting tall trees or shrubs can provide cover for smaller animals and birds and disrupt the hunting patterns of hawks.
Install Tall Structures: Similar to trees, installing tall structures like poles or tall garden decorations can disrupt a hawk’s flight pattern, making your backyard less appealing.

Using Decoys

Decoys can help scare off hawks as they mimic the predators of hawks:

Owl or Eagle Decoys: Hawks are naturally afraid of owls and eagles, their predators. Installing decoys that resemble these birds can keep hawks away.

Remember to regularly change the location of your decoys to ensure their effectiveness. Hawks are intelligent birds and may get used to a static decoy over time.

Professional Assistance and Products

Despite your best efforts, you may still find that hawks are frequenting your backyard. If this is the case, consider seeking professional help. Here are a few options:

Hire a Pest Control or Wildlife Deterrence Company

These professionals are trained to handle and deter various types of wildlife, including hawks. They will be able to provide tailored solutions based on your specific situation and local laws. They may use specialized methods, like trained dogs, to naturally scare away the hawks without harming them.

Commercial Repellents

There are numerous commercial repellents available on the market that can help deter hawks. These include:

Hawk Repellent Sprays: These non-toxic sprays can create an uncomfortable environment for hawks, making them less likely to frequent your yard.
Ultrasonic Bird Deterrents: These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are unpleasant to hawks but are inaudible to humans.
Bird Netting: Placing netting over areas where your pets or birds reside can physically prevent hawks from reaching them.

Remember, the aim is to keep hawks away humanely, and these methods help achieve that. Always consult a professional before deciding on a course of action, as what works best may depend on your local laws and the specifics of your situation.

Final Thoughts

Keeping hawks away from your backyard is not about villainizing these majestic creatures, but about ensuring the safety of your pets and birds while respecting wildlife. Hawks, like all creatures, play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Balancing our needs with theirs is a challenge, but cohabitation is possible with a comprehensive understanding of their habits and the right set of deterrent tools.

Always use humane and non-harmful methods when dealing with hawks or other wildlife. If you’re unsure about what action to take, don’t hesitate to seek advice from local wildlife authorities or professionals. When respected and understood, nature can be a harmonious place for all creatures to coexist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use a pellet gun to scare away hawks?

It’s important to remember that hawks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to harm, kill, or possess these birds without a permit. Shooting at them, even with a pellet gun, is illegal and can cause serious harm to the bird. Non-harmful deterrents are the best approach to keeping hawks away.

2. Are hawks afraid of any other birds?

Yes, hawks are typically afraid of larger birds that could be potential predators, like eagles and owls. Therefore, using decoys that resemble these larger birds can sometimes be an effective deterrent.

3. What time of day are hawks most active?

Hawks are diurnal birds, which means they’re most active during the day. They typically do most of their hunting in the early morning hours just after dawn and the late afternoon hours just before dusk.

4. Can hawks be dangerous to humans?

While hawks are generally not a threat to humans, they can become defensive and protective, especially during the breeding season. If a hawk has built a nest in your yard and perceives a threat, there is a possibility it could act aggressively. However, such instances are rare.

5. What should I do if a hawk is attacking my small pets?

First, try to provide shelters and hiding places for your pets. To attack, hawks need a clear line of sight, so disrupting this can deter them. Consider implementing some of the non-harmful deterrents discussed in the article, such as scare tactics, landscape modifications, and decoys. If the problem persists, contacting a professional wildlife deterrence company may be worth contacting.