Hawk attacks East County woman in her yard

EL CAJON (FOX 5/KUSI) -- An East County woman was attacked by a hawk in her front yard this week. Now, experts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are offering some advice.

Donna Spevack is still recovering and in pain near the puncture wounds days later.

“It really hurts still. It's kind of like a burning, searing pain,” said Spevack. She said she thinks the bird likely came from a nest in her neighbor's tree.

“All the claws went in my head, and there's all (these) puncture wounds,” Spevack said. “Who would ever think... you’re just out here gardening and then all of a sudden, wham.”

Spevack said on Tuesday she was planting flowers in the garden in her front yard when the hawk swooped in quietly from behind and latched onto the back of her head.

“Then I heard this fluttering, but I didn’t hear anything coming up behind me,” Spevack explained. “And I looked up and it was sitting in the tree there, looking at me."

With blood dripping down her neck, Donna rushed into her home so her husband could take her to the hospital. She was treated for “puncture wounds to scalp by claws of hawk,” according to her medical records of that visit.

She received a CT scan, a tetanus shot, and doctors cleaned her puncture wounds. She said she luckily did not have to get stitches.

Spevack told FOX 5 she has always had a fear of birds.

“I’m scared to death of them. My husband and son would always tease me,” Spevack said.

Spevack said she has not been back out in her garden since the incident until this interview.

“I’m nervous, I’ve been carrying my umbrella around with me when I come out,” Spevack said. She mentioned the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told her umbrellas can help deter hawks.

One of the state fish and wildlife biologists told FOX 5, "Most of the time, hawks (and other birds) become defensive during nesting season. We generally recommend that people avoid the area until the hawks have vacated the nest."

However, Donna living next door is trying her best.

“So now I watch. We look in the trees when we go outside. I go from the garage and the car and I just back out and then leave, I haven’t been going out here too much,” Spevack said.

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