Terror in the Skies as Winged Creature Attacks Texas Neighborhood; Could Yours Be Next?

Residents of a neighborhood in Central Texas are staying indoors for the time being.

Why? Because for the past three months, any time they step outside, they run the risk of being attacked.by a large, aggressive, winged creature.

So far, there have been two dozen of these attacks reported in that time, according to reporting outlet WFAA. The victims include residents, postal workers, lawn maintenance workers and roof repairmen.

Those who have been attacked describe the attacks as so vicious they "thought it was a baseball bat".

There's A Good Reason For It

The winged creature in question is likely one you've seen before in your own neighborhood, a red-shouldered hawk. Two of these fearsome birds of prey have set up camp in a Keller, Texas neighborhood and their reign of terror has a biological reason behind it.

They built a nest and their territorial attacks are to defend their nest and the three hatchlings that live there.

Neighborhood residents interviewed by WFAA say that the same nest had six hatchlings last year and that this is actually the second year they've been under a seasonal attack by the hawks.

Terror and Chaos with Wings

Getting dive-bombed by a hawk is not great, to say the least. Residents say that they have gashes, gouges and even scars from the attacks.

They also told NBC 5 DFW that neighborhood children are no longer allowed outside without wearing a helmet. Residents also say that if they must go outside, they use the cover of an umbrella.

What Can Be Done?

The solution to the problem of ferocious winged raptors that are attacking people isn't as simple as it may seem. The red-shouldered hawk is a federally protected species, and anyone who touches the hawks in any shape or form is subject to federal investigation and charges.

The City of Keller has turned to the Department of Agriculture to take the lead in the nuisance hawk issue. And in a statement given to WFAA, the department states that "biologists are currently working to remove the chicks and send them to a local rehabber within the next few days and the nest will be removed."

They go on to explain that "the adult hawks will be able to re-nest and Wildlife Services will use nonlethal methods to haze the birds away from the area."