18 ATTACHMENT 14 - Laserfiche WebLink

News - Okotoks -Hawk attach- Hair of runners Page 1 of 1 ~ Okotoks -Hawk attacks pair of runners By Ryan Laverty Sports editor What has grown into a regular, routine Saturday morning run, turned into anything but for a pair of local runners last weekend. Norm Brennand, a member of Okotoks' Big Rock Runners Club, was east of the Wilderness Campground on 49th Avenue when he was dive-bombed by a hawk. "I have run that route since the flooding took out the path and I've known of this hawk and that it was very territorial," said Brennand. "I looked up to try to see it when I turned onto 49th Avenue, but it was way up high and I lost sight of it. All of a sudden it came straight down like a bullet. "I've heard that when they dive like that hawks can reach up to 100 miles per hour. It felt like I'd been hit with a hard ball. It hit me that hard." But the gash the bird left on Brennand's head looked nothing like the result of a fast ball. The bird's talons left a long diagonal cut on Brennand's head reaching from just above his left brow to the back right portion of his head. "I was surprised at how much blood there was because it didn't feel like a scratch," said Brennand. "It hit me hard enough to break my stride, I' 11 tell you that." Brennand returned to the Okotoks Recreation Centre to retrieve his car so he could warn other runners to stay away from the area. While he was doing that a second Big Rock Runner, Jay Hebert, trotted into the bird's territory and incurred a similar wrath. "He didn't get it as bad as me, but he did get hit," said Brennand. Brennand said he and Hebert were treated at the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre and walked out without any major problems other than perhaps a small case of embarrassment. "It was a bit embarrassing I suppose. All the other runners gave us a bit of a ribbing," said Brennand. "It was kind of funny for us, but it probably wouldn't be funny for a child." John Nibourg, Okotoks' open spaces manager, agreed, warning people to keep their eyes open for the birds' warning signs this time of year. "With very few exceptions these birds will warn you a couple of times before they actually get you. They'll swoop down to warn you and only if you get too close will they hit you," said Nibourg. "This is the time of year a lot of birds get very territorial with their young so you have to watch out." Nibourg said one of the most violent attackers is the Eastern Kingbird, a smallish bird with dark upperparts and a white stomach area. Nibourg suggested if you're going to be out in areas where birds are known to live, bring a walking stick or broom for protection. http://www.westernwheel.com/050803/news-okhawksrunners.htm ~ ~i~i~nm