SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah zoo falcon was killed by wolves after he flew away during a bird show and landed in the wolf pen.

Hogle Zoo spokeswoman Erica Hansen said Tuesday that the 17-year-old Lanner Falcon named "Maximus" took an errant turn during the Sunday show and landed in an open-air enclosure home to two wolves.

Doing "what predators do," Hansen says the wolves killed the falcon. Zookeepers distracted the wolves and got the falcon out before he was eaten.

Hansen says a handful of people were watching when the falcon was killed by the wolves.

She says "Maximus" has been in the show for 10 years and is nearly irreplaceable. She says the zoo's bird staff is heart-broken and plans to have a memorial for the falcon.