10/29/2026
❤️ In Loving Memory of JT — Our Beloved Red-Tailed Hawk
It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of JT, our beloved red-tailed hawk and one of Wild Hearts African Farm’s very first wildlife ambassadors.
JT’s story with me began in the early winter of 2015, when I was working in wildlife rehabilitation at Hueston Woods State Park. He had been brought in after being struck by a vehicle, suffering devastating injuries. I still remember seeing his wing dangling and taking him to the veterinarian, where part of his wing had to be amputated.
Despite everything he had been through, JT survived.
Not long afterward, another injured red-tailed hawk (we named Sonya) came into our care. Both birds had suffered injuries that prevented them from returning to the wild, but they would go on to become two of the very first animals at Wild Hearts.
Red-tailed hawks have always been my life bird. I can spot them soaring above the fields while I’m driving, recognize their calls in an instant, and never seem to tire of admiring their beauty. To me, they represent strength, resilience, and, perhaps most importantly, hope.
JT and Sonya embodied all of those things.
Although their injuries prevented them from surviving independently in the wild, they found a new purpose as educational ambassadors, helping us teach others about the very species they represent.
JT was one of my first partners in wildlife education. Together, we visited schools, nursing homes, daycare centers, birthday parties, parades, and community festivals. We taught people about migratory birds, the threats they face, the tragic story of the passenger pigeon, and the history of bird protection in the United States. Most importantly, we taught people about the simple things we can do to coexist with wildlife and make the world a little safer for them.
Over eleven years, JT and I must have worked together hundreds if not thousands of times.
He was always such a good sport. Although he could be a little wobbly moving around because of his missing wing, he was wonderfully steady on my glove. We knew each other well, and I genuinely loved working with him.
When he wasn’t helping with educational programs, visitors could often find him sitting on his perch, enjoying the sunshine alongside Sonya.
There are certain animals at Wild Hearts that I always imagined would be here until the very end. JT was one of them.
Knowing that red-tailed hawks can sometimes live into their thirties under human care, I suppose I took for granted that we had many more years together. I pictured him still here someday when I was getting a little too old to do all the chores around the zoo.
I never imagined having to say goodbye to him so soon.
JT’s passing was sudden and unexpected. A veterinary examination suggests he may have had lingering neurological complications from his previous injuries, although we do not have a definitive explanation for his death.
His loss has been incredibly difficult to comprehend.
When I look toward the sky and see a red-tailed hawk soaring overhead, I have always felt a sense of hope. I think about the challenges these birds face every day, from collisions with vehicles to poisoning, habitat loss, and human persecution. And yet they persevere.
JT was a survivor. He overcame incredible odds, and for eleven wonderful bonus years, he helped inspire others to care about the wildlife that shares our world.
He may have lost his ability to fly, but he never lost his ability to inspire.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Good Samaritan who found JT injured along the roadside all those years ago and made sure he received help. I don’t know if that person will ever read this, but I hope they know that their simple act of kindness gave JT a second chance at life. Because someone cared enough to help, JT went on to live eleven more years and inspire countless people to appreciate and protect wildlife.
What a beautiful reminder that one person’s compassion can make a lasting difference.
I also want to sincerely thank everyone who visited JT, attended one of his programs, supported Wild Hearts, or contributed to his care over the years. Because of you, JT had a safe home, a meaningful purpose, and a life filled with care.
We will miss him terribly. Not just as an animal in our care, but as my longtime companion and one of my favorite coworkers.
Fly high, sweet JT. Don’t worry, we’re looking after Sonya.
We love you, and thank you for being such an important part of Wild Hearts.🪶
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
