Small village terrorised by deadly bird of prey attacking locals and sparking chaos

A bird of prey has been terrorising locals in the small village of Flamstead, Hertfordshire, with “at least a dozen people” being targeted. The bird, believed to be Harris’s hawk, has been diving at “tall men” over the past week, causing havoc across the town.

“It attacks from behind, and you’re surprised. You suddenly get a whack on the head—a number of people get their heads cut,” local resident Roy Lambden told the . Mr Lambden, 68, believes that the hawk has been flying around the village “on and off for a couple of months.” However, he said the attacks only started “over the last week”.

He shared how someone working in his garden had been attacked twice by the bird, with another friend of his falling victim, getting a cut on the head.

“It’s moving around the village,” he exclaimed.

The Hertfordshire local said he was pounced on by the hawk on Sunday,, March 2, and only later realised that his CCTV system had captured the moment.

A spokesperson for Whipsnade Zoo nearby claimed the bird was not theirs. They told the broadcasting house they knew of a Harris’s Hawk in the local area, yet emphasised that it would not be “actively hostile towards humans” unless it felt threatened.

A trained falconer from the neighbouring town of Markyate has stepped forward to save locals from bird attacks, saying he will “attempt to trap it” with a humane trap.

“Local falconers are talking to people, working behind the scenes to get it back to its home,” Mr Lambden added.

Whipsnade Zoo has advised residents to contact “the RSPB or British Bird Council for advice at this stage, and our bird keepers will be on standby to help if they need us”.

Their statement explained: “Birds of prey aren’t actively hostile towards humans, but may attack if provoked or if they feel threatened if a person got too close.”

The Zoo has also recommended against “feeding birds of prey”.