Residents said a red-tailed hawk is holding them hostage in their own neighborhood.
They said it's attacked nearly a dozen people in the Hickory neighborhood.
The problem is so bad, some people won't go outside without protection.
Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty went to the neighborhood and found out state wildlife officers can't even really help.
The hawk sits about 50 to 60 feet up in a tree. From a Channel 9 mast cam, the bird can be seen close up.
Roger Beaver is careful not to leave his house without wearing a hard hat. This is after the hawk swooped down and attacked him from behind. He had to take antibiotics for 12 days.
"(It attacked) about four times. One time was real bad. I had to go to the doctor,” Beaver said. "When I mow my yard, I wear my helmet."
Beaver isn't alone. Channel 9 found one neighbor carrying a red plastic bat for protection Tuesday.
"The hawks keep attacking us. They'll hit us in the back of the head. Drag their claws across out head and blood runs down our face,” said neighbor Barry Smith.
"I was right here and it swooped down and it felt like a football hit me in the head. And then it got up in a tree and its wingspan, and I started running,” said neighbor Susy Morrison.
Channel contacted North Carolina wildlife officials and found out the birds are federally protected and can't be killed or their nest destroyed.
Wildlife officers said the hawks are most likely protecting eggs and newborns.
On Tuesday, Channel 9 could see the mother bird feeding her young.
Roger Heesch wants to coexist, but he showed Channel 9 pictures where the bird struck the back of his head. His wife was attacked just Monday.
"That's what everybody says, they are federally protected, but I wish those people who make those laws could live here for a month,” said Heesch.
North Carolina wildlife officials told Channel 9 once the baby birds leave the nest in the next few weeks the attacks should stop.
They said it's attacked nearly a dozen people in the Hickory neighborhood.
The problem is so bad, some people won't go outside without protection.
Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty went to the neighborhood and found out state wildlife officers can't even really help.
The hawk sits about 50 to 60 feet up in a tree. From a Channel 9 mast cam, the bird can be seen close up.
Roger Beaver is careful not to leave his house without wearing a hard hat. This is after the hawk swooped down and attacked him from behind. He had to take antibiotics for 12 days.
"(It attacked) about four times. One time was real bad. I had to go to the doctor,” Beaver said. "When I mow my yard, I wear my helmet."
Beaver isn't alone. Channel 9 found one neighbor carrying a red plastic bat for protection Tuesday.
"The hawks keep attacking us. They'll hit us in the back of the head. Drag their claws across out head and blood runs down our face,” said neighbor Barry Smith.
"I was right here and it swooped down and it felt like a football hit me in the head. And then it got up in a tree and its wingspan, and I started running,” said neighbor Susy Morrison.
Channel contacted North Carolina wildlife officials and found out the birds are federally protected and can't be killed or their nest destroyed.
Wildlife officers said the hawks are most likely protecting eggs and newborns.
On Tuesday, Channel 9 could see the mother bird feeding her young.
Roger Heesch wants to coexist, but he showed Channel 9 pictures where the bird struck the back of his head. His wife was attacked just Monday.
"That's what everybody says, they are federally protected, but I wish those people who make those laws could live here for a month,” said Heesch.
North Carolina wildlife officials told Channel 9 once the baby birds leave the nest in the next few weeks the attacks should stop.
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