One of two trained Harris hawks stolen from SoFi Stadium last Monday has been recovered, while the other remains missing, the birds’ owner said.
The theft occurred shortly after 2:20 p.m., when a maroon, two-seat Kawasaki utility task vehicle carrying the birds in green containers was taken from near the stadium’s lake area at 1001 Stadium Drive, according to a news release from the Inglewood Police Department.
Witnesses described the suspect as a Black adult male wearing a black shirt and jacket with a white stripe down the shoulder, black pants, and black shoes. The utility vehicle was last seen near the Century Village shopping area.
The recovered hawk, named Bubba, was spotted in Hacienda Heights by a resident, who contacted police. The Inglewood Police Department then alerted the birds’ owner, Charles Cogger, who retrieved Bubba.
“Alice is still out there, but this gives me hope she will show up,” Cogger said, reflecting the cautious optimism shared by the falconry community in Southern California.
Harris hawks, which are used by falconers during games at SoFi Stadium to deter other birds, are not considered threatened or endangered. However, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife notes that raptors are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits harassment or hunting of these birds. Harris hawks are unusual among raptors in that they are social and often hunt in family groups. They have broad wings, long tails with dark bands and white tips, reddish-brown shoulder patches, and a diet that includes birds, rodents, rabbits, and lizards.
The theft of these trained raptors has drawn attention not only because of the animals’ rarity but also because of the care required to train and maintain birds of prey for professional falconry.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Inglewood Police Department Watch Commander at 310-412-5206.
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