NMSU warns of aggressive hawks living on campus

If you’re walking through NMSU’s campus, watch out for some angry birds.

Two hawks are living in a tree near Rentfrow gym. But the birds are aggressive. Infact, NMSU had it’s first attack of the year just last week.

ABC-7 caught one of birds peering through the leaves on Tuesday morning. Over the past three years, they’ve attacked nearly a dozen students. Many suffered head injuries, one even required 8 stitches. Officials say the hawks are acting to protect their young. They’re most aggressive when they want to retrieve a fledgling that’s been unable to make its way back to the nest.

But there’s not much the university can do.

The hawks are protected under the migratory bird treaty act, which makes it illegal to disturb an active nest.

Wildlife officials have tried thinning branches twice already to discourage them. They’ve also put up signs with faces on them attempting to scare them.

The vice president of NMSU’s facilities and services department tells ABC-7 if the aggression continues, the university can apply for a permit to relocate the hawks. The very last step in that permit is lethal action, but he says NMSU would never consider that.