Dead rats suspected in mystery deaths of New York City hawks

Twitchers turning their hands to detective work after mystery unfolded which prompted fear a bird poisoner might be at large.

Six birds have been found dead in and around Manhattan parks in recent weeks.

Parks Department officials said they are careful not to load up parks with rat poison but bird-watchers are more suspicious of the rats themselves.

They are worried the hawks may have eaten poison second-hand by chowing down on sick rodents or pigeons.

‘It’s easy prey,’ said Bobby Horvath, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. ‘They see a mouse stumbling or a pigeon flopping and don’t realize it’s weak because it ate poison.

‘It’s a cluster, and that’s a concern. These are birds that just died. They were not hit by a car or flew into a building.’ Read More