ITV News films aggressive hawk's latest attack as residents petition to save it (2025)

A hawk rumoured to be under a death sentence for terrorising residents in a village near Luton has found support from an unlikely source – the villagers themselves. ITV News’ Cari Davies reports

Residents in a village near Luton have set up a petition to save a hawk that has attacked up to 50 people, after it was thought the council was considering putting it down.

Flamstead Parish Council vehemently denies that it is planning to euthanise the bird.

But the number of attacks are on the rise, with villagers growing increasingly concerned.

The Harris’s hawk regularly swoops down and attacks residents in the small Hertfordshire village of Flamstead, sometimes leaving victims’ heads covered in blood.

ITV News was filming with Jim Hewitt as he made his way to the shop on Tuesday morning, but before there was a chance to warn him, the bird attacked.

It is one of the most serious incidents to date, and Jim gave ITV News permission to show the damage done to his head, because he believes the bird needs to be removed by any means necessary.

ITV News was filming with Jim Hewitt as he made his way to the shop on Tuesday morning, but before there was a chance to warn him, the bird swooped

Other residents are also taking matters into their own hands.

“It keeps coming down to get my head and get my hat and the more I walk out, the more it comes down,” Billy Hudson told ITV News.

“So I’m just trying to catch it with the net as I walk out [the house] now.”

Billy said he was using himself as human bait, but said that “unfortunately I think we’re going past the point of can it be captured? And is it going to have to be euthanised?”

Men have been the most common target, with the hawk now suspected of dive-bombing around 50 people – but fears for children have been raised after it snatched a teenager’s hat with its talons.

Gillian Spragg, another resident in the village, said: “It landed on my roof the other day and my grandson said to me, don’t go out.

“I have a lodger living me and he has been attacked four times now and had a chunk taken out of his head. It’s just worrying really, and it’s been going on for a long time now.”

Flamstead Parish Council enlisted the help of a falconer to try to capture the bird, but according to the petition, it will take some time for the expert to capture the bird.

Hertfordshire police say they cannot act because it’s not within their jurisdiction.

What happens next is dividing villagers.

While some are calling for it to be euthanised, other residents say “instead of a death sentence, it deserves understanding.”

A petition to safeguard the hawk has been set up, urging community leaders to provide the time for the falconer to capture the bird and have wildlife experts assess its behaviour.