2 People Attacked By Hawk At St. John's University, Officials Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A hawk apparently trying to protect an injured baby bird has been attacking people at St. John's University in Queens.
Two people were attacked by a large hawk while on campus in the last 24 hours. In the first incident on Wednesday, someone was struck while standing in front of the school's University Center. On Thursday, someone was attacked while walking near the back of St. John's Hall, near their oval parking lot.
Earlier reports that the people who were attacked were students turned out to be incorrect.
According to St. John's University, the hawk has become more aggressive in order to protect a baby hawk living on campus that is apparently injured.
The school issued a notice to students on Thursday, sparking a response on social media:
St. John's just sent me an email warning us about two incidents of people being struck in the head by a hawk at the campus.
— Lilybean (@LilyHornung) June 2, 2016
At least St. John's is keeping me entertained with their developing Hawk story. ????
— Xavier (@SConde) June 2, 2016
Now there's a vicious hawk attacking people on St. John's campus.
— Chrissy Grierson (@chrissygrierson) June 2, 2016
According to DNAinfo.com, two red-tailed hawks were spotted on campus near the baby hawk. It a letter Thursday, St. John's University advised students to stay away from the area around St. John's Hall as the hawks' activity was monitored by school officials.
The identities of the victims struck by the hawk were not immediately known.