Sad News About Red-Tailed Hawk SU-Sue

Syracuse University’s resident female red-tailed hawk SU-Sue has died. Several people reported to the Department of Public Safety that a hawk was on the ground near Huntington Beard Crouse Hall on Friday, Jan. 13, around 5 p.m. Soon thereafter, SU-Sue was rescued by Anne Marie Higgins with the help of a public safety officer and taken to Cindy Page, a wildlife rehabilitator. Sue received treatment for symptoms of head trauma, but, unfortunately, she did not survive.

No one witnessed Sue’s injury that officials know of, and if anyone has information, they are asked to report it to public safety at 315.443.2224.

This is a tragic loss for Sue’s mate, Otto, and the pair’s admirers at Syracuse University, in the local community and around the world who have followed them and their 28 progeny since they began nesting at Syracuse University in 2012, via the SU Hawk Nest Cam since 2017, and on the Facebook page Red-Tailed Hawk Tales.

Red-tailed hawks mate for life and when one dies, the surviving hawk usually finds another mate.