Florida firefighters pull red-shouldered hawk from flooded storm drain

A red-shouldered hawk is recovering after firefighters rescued it from a flooded storm drain in St. Johns County, Florida, as heavy rain and rising water made conditions more dangerous.

Here's what to know

According to WXII 12, St. Johns County Fire Rescue shared video of crews removing the hawk from the storm drain in severe weather, and the bird was taken to animal control for care and treatment.

Ark Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation said the hawk arrived in bad shape, describing him as "nearly hypothermic" and "very weak" after the incident.

Fortunately, the group reported that the hawk had stabilized and begun eating on his own.

More background

While rainwater kept pouring into the drainage system, firefighters were working in dangerous weather with the hawk still trapped inside.

The video from St. Johns County Fire Rescue shows how storm drains can become deadly traps during flooding. Predicaments like this can be extremely hazardous for animals, and the water and prolonged exposure left this hawk too weak to escape on his own.

Where can I learn more?

Storm drains and flooding have put other animals in danger too. These stories follow manatees and ducklings as crews pull them to safety in similar emergencies.

• In Florida, wildlife officials rescued a manatee after it became stuck in a storm drain during a survey.

• In New York, firefighters found 11 ducklings trapped beneath a storm drain while their mother waited nearby.

• In Arizona, rescuers spent two hours freeing ducklings from the drain before reuniting them with their mother.

• In California, firefighters helped a man pull ducklings from the drain as their mother waited above.

• Neighbors gathered as rescuers pulled ducklings from the drain one by one while a mother duck waited.

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