A pair of hawks protecting its brood on Henry Street has caused enough worry for a local mail carrier and supervisor for Canada Post to suspend delivery in that neighbourhood until the fledglings leave the nest.
Lillian Au, Canada Post spokeswoman, told the Times-Herald residents along the 1000 block of both James Street and Henry Street would have to pick up their mail at Moose Jaw's main post office, starting Friday, until the large predatory birds leave the local area.
Au said over the past few days, two hawks in a nest on an area property have been swooping down at a mail carrier.
When the carrier's supervisor came out to assess the situation, the birds swooped down at that individual as well.
"It is very unnerving."
As a result, Canada Post stopped delivery in that area temporarily.
However, local Saskatchewan Environment conservation officer Braden Cherney said the hawks aren't actually a threat and he explained to the mail carrier the birds are only trying to intimidate and not actually harm people. He said the hawks typically attack rodents for food.
But according to Au, even if the birds don't attack the mail carrier, the fact the carrier must constantly be watching overhead for the aggressive animals means duties can't be safely performed. The carrier needs to be watching for slippery spots, traffic and other hazards, she said.
Canada Post isn't alone regarding local hawk concerns.
Pamela Peterson lives two houses down from where the birds have nested.
She said although she has not had a direct hawk encounter, the carnivorous birds have impacted her nerves, in that she worries they might attack and injure someone in the neighbourhood, possibly kill her poodle or come after her.
"I am deathly scared of birds, so something that big would just be traumatic."
Peterson said she might collect residents' signatures for a petition to have the swooping birds removed once they have their babies. She wants something done so the hawks don't return next year.
"Does someone have to get hurt before someone moves them?"
Cherney said Saskatchewan Environment would consider removing the nest once the hawks leave the area.
However, there's no guarantee the birds won't build another nest in the area next year.
He added it's important, for protection of the animals, that there's as little human interference as possible. Any human contact with the birds could hinder the success rate of the brood.
"We try to protect wildlife and not infringe."
After speaking with various residents in the neighbourhood , Cherney said that while some are worried about hawk dangers, some have no worries whatsoever.
He added residents should, ideally, be tolerant and supportive of the hawk family.
"I hope that there can be some compromise and we can help these hawks breed successfully."
What type of hawks are on Henry Street?
Saskatchewan Wildlife project co-ordinator Jim Kroshus said the type of hawks living on Henry Street are called Swainson's hawks.
Although the birds may swoop near people's heads, Kroshus said they almost never actually become aggressive and attack.
"They're just trying to defend their territory, like any good parent would do," he said, adding not much can be done to remove the hawks at this time, since there are laws against disrupting raptor birds that feed on mice and hawks.
In 1966, it became illegal to disturb raptors, because they eat pests and keep unwanted populations down. Kroshus said the fact there are raptors in the area could indicate a need for these birds, since higher numbers of pests would result in more hawks.
Kroshus said the hawks' babies will probably be flying in about a month and the birds will migrate south in September.
Once there is no danger of disturbing an active nest (because the hawks are gone), Kroshus said the Henry Street nest could be removed, which would likely prevent them from returning to the neighbourhood.
In the meantime, he encourages residents to tolerate and appreciate the hawks.
