Tennis

Rufus The Anti-Pigeon Hawk Was Stolen From Wimbledon

Rufus the anti-pigeon hawks deters pigeons and other small birds from bothering players and spectators during matches at Wimbledon. It’s an important job at the All England Club because PIGEONS ARE GROSS. This has been a tradition for the past 12 years, and, for the most part, has worked pretty well. But now, thanks to some criminal activity, PIGEONS WILL RUN WILD.

Via the AP:

“London police said Saturday that Rufus, the Harrier hawk, was stolen with its cage between Thursday night and Friday morning from a car parked on a private driveway in the southeastern suburb of Wimbledon.

The company that owns the hawk had left a rear window of the car open for ventilation, police say.

The hawk, a family pet, flies above the tennis lawns every day, scaring away smaller birds such as pigeons that could distract the players and bother the audience.”

Hopefully Wimbledon will now pay some poor sap $4 an hour to shoo away pigeons with a broom or something.

[AP]

Image via Getty

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