The pet I’ll never forget: Bird the hawk – the predator who once hugged me for 20 minutes

A Harris’s hawk, she is capable of flying at more than 35mph, scouring the ground for prey, while also judging my footwear. The moments of connection with this wild creature are incredible My children brought hawks into my life. My youngest son, especially, became fascinated by birds of prey at the age of six, drawing beautiful pictures and reciting endless facts to bird owners at various country shows. Eventually I decided, why not? We live in the countryside, after all, on Anglesey (Ynys Mô...

By Candida Meyrick, as told to Gabriel Stewart