What started as an unexpected wildlife encounter in a Rapid City backyard ended with a young red-tailed hawk safely reunited with its family, thanks to the collaborative effort of a local family, the Black Hills Raptor Center and Black Hills Energy.

Late one afternoon, Ashley and her family discovered a baby red-tailed hawk on the ground near a fence in their yard. At first, they weren't even sure the bird was alive.

"My husband came home from work, and the poor baby was lying on the ground kind of tucked into the fence," Ashley said. "Honestly, we weren't sure if it was breathing until it moved."

Overhead, the hawk's mother kept a close watch.

"The mom was flying back and forth across the powerline just screeching," Ashley said.

Not knowing what to do, they called the Black Hills Raptor Center for help. Following the center’s guidance, they moved the young hawk into a shaded area where its mother could still see it until the bird could be picked up and taken to the center for evaluation.

According to Tracy, a wildlife rehabilitator with the Black Hills Raptor Center, young raptors occasionally tumble from nests as they grow larger and more adventurous.

"It happens more often than people think," Tracy said. "Sometimes it's just sibling rivalry. Sometimes they're climbing around the nest and end up in the wrong place."

Before the hawk could be returned, the rehabilitation team needed to make sure it hadn’t suffered any serious injuries from the fall.

Tracy checked the bird's wings for broken bones, evaluated its overall condition and watched its behavior closely. Healthy young hawks should be alert, defensive and eager to move away from people.

"If they're behaving normally, they don't like humans," she said. "That's actually a good sign."

The young hawk passed its health checks but spent a few days receiving additional care. Tracy made sure the bird was hydrated, gaining weight and strong enough to return to the wild. Just as importantly, the team confirmed that the nest was still active and that the parent birds were continuing to care for the remaining chicks.

"This little guy was very lucky," Tracy said. "A lot of times they can break bones or suffer other injuries from a fall like that."

During the rehabilitation process, Tracy took special precautions to prevent the hawk from becoming accustomed to people, even wearing camouflage clothing when handling the bird. “It’s important to prevent it from imprinting on humans, to preserve the natural behaviors it will need to survive in the wild,” she said.

Once the bird was ready, the Black Hills Raptor Center reached out to Black Hills Energy for help with the next challenge: getting the young hawk back into its nest.

That was where Aaron, a Black Hills Energy Line Mechanic, stepped in. Tracy brought the young bird back to Ashley’s yard, and Aaron used a bucket truck to safely return the young hawk to its nest high above the ground, where it was reunited with its siblings and attentive parents.

The successful return highlights a longstanding relationship between Black Hills Energy and the Black Hills Raptor Center. “Black Hills Energy has been a great partner for us over the years,” Tracy said. “Whenever we have a situation that requires specialized equipment or access, they're always willing to help. Getting this young hawk safely back into its nest was a true team effort.”

We’re committed to protecting wildlife, and our Avian Protection Program is designed to reduce risks to protected bird species while improving electric system reliability. The program includes bird management policies, avian protection plans, employee resources and procedures that help protect birds and support responsible stewardship of natural resources.

For Ken Meirose, Sr. Electric Operations Manager, situations like this are a natural extension of the company's commitment to the communities we serve.

"We've always believed being a good neighbor means caring for the environment and the wildlife that share our communities," Ken said. "Our Avian Protection Program helps us protect birds while maintaining safe, reliable service, and we're proud of the relationship we have with the Black Hills Raptor Center. It's rewarding when we can work together and help a situation like this have a happy ending."

Today, the hawk appears to be thriving.

Ashley said she and her family can now see three young hawks peeking over the edge of the nest, while their mother keeps watch nearby.

"Sometimes when we're outside, we can see the three little heads poking over," she said. "The mom sits on a branch next to the nest, and when I went out this morning she was bringing a big snake back to them."

For Tracy, seeing the young hawk safely returned to the nest made the effort worthwhile.

“This little hawk had a lot of people rooting for him, and Black Hills Energy was a key part of that story,” she said. “We couldn't have gotten him safely back into the nest without their help. It's a great partnership, and it's always rewarding when we can work together to help wildlife.”

Thanks to a little luck, a watchful family and coordinated community teamwork, one adventurous young hawk got a second chance, right back at home.