A sign marks the area closed because of a hawk that has been attacking passersby, June 12, 2018 | Photo by Spencer Ricks, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An area on Dixie State University’s campus is temporarily closed off due to a pair of aggressive hawks that have been attacking people walking by.

The university closed off about one acre near the Jennings Communication Building where the hawks have reportedly attacked at least 11 people, said Sherry Ruesch, Dixie State’s executive director of facilities management.

The birds are Cooper’s hawks, which are found in all parts of the U.S. according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The Cooper’s hawk is a protected species as a bird of prey.

The hawks are guarding a nest, Ruesch said, which is another reason they have asked people not to disturb the birds.

The first reported hawk attack took place on June 12. An employee informed the university that a bird had swooped down and hit his head.

One injury has been reported, a minor scratch.

The hawks have not used their talons to try to grab or seriously injure any passersby, rather they swoop down and hit people with one of their wings.

Maryn Weed, a web developer and student at Dixie State, said she was hit on the head by the hawk two days in a row.

The first day she thought it was her imagination.

“The next day I went along my usual route and the same thing happened. But I actually turned around that time to see the hawk fly back around.”

The Utah Division of Wildlife Services said the hawks will probably remain aggressive for a few more weeks. They recommended that people avoid the area.

The hawks make a loud screeching sound before attacking. Wildlife Services recommends that if a hawk tries to attack you – they attack from behind – it is best to turn around and face it, which will cause them to fly away.

Ruesch sent an email to employees June 14 to inform them of the situation and tell them how to respond if a hawk attacks. She also asked people not to disturb the birds and to report any attacks so the safety area can be modified if necessary.

For the most part, the employees at Dixie State have enjoyed the hawks’ presence on campus, and even named them Dixie and Rebel, and the chicks Storm and Blaze.

“People like them and we like them, but dive-bombing, not so much,” Ruesch said.

Email: mshoup@stgnews.com

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