Lost & Found: Rufus the Hawk, Wimbledon’s Pigeon-Chaser

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Lost & Found: Rufus the Hawk, Wimbledon’s Pigeon-Chaser

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Ian Walton/Getty Images

(July 2, 2012)—He goes by the name of Rufus, but early Friday morning he was just gone.

After being left in a parked car in his cage, Rufus the Hawk, Wimbledon's official pigeon-remover, had mysteriously disappeared. Was he whisked away by some wild friends for a romp in the country? Was he stolen by a merry prankster just looking to make a scene? And why was he left in a car in the first place?

Nobody seemed to know.

When news hit, social media networks exploded with well-wishing and genuine care from animal and tennis lovers alike.

Then, the following morning, the four-and-a-half-year-old Harris American hawk was found, unharmed and still in his cage, by a member of the public.

He was then taken to the RSPCA animal hospital in Putney, according to a BBC article.

Rufus did have a "slightly sore leg," according to reports, and would rest for a day before returning to his pigeon-terrorizing ways.

The surprisingly literate and computer-savvy hawk tweeted words of praise to his well-wishers. "Thank you, thank you, thank you all. We are truly overwhelmed by your lovely messages & cannot explain how relieved and ecstatic we are!" he said yesterday evening, after being reunited with his owner and handler, Imogen Davis.

"It's been his playground, since forever really," said Davis. "We're here every weekend throughout the year and then every morning at The Championships."

This year, Rufus was kept in a parked car overnight instead of making the two-hour commute to and from Corby in Northhamptonshire for his 5:30 A.M. shift.

Rufus is also employed at Westminster Abbey, where he keeps area clear of pigeons so that their droppings don't damage the stonework.

And he'll be working his first Olympics later this month, something most hawks can't boast.

Miss Harris says that Rufus won't be sleeping in the car any more. He'll be kept safely inside a house for now on.