The Stolen Hawks of SoFi Stadium: A Distressing Tale of Beloved Bird Protectors
In a distressing turn of events during a recent Los Angeles Rams game at SoFi Stadium, two trained hawks named Alice and Bubba were stolen when a thief made off with the utility vehicle in which they were being kept. These birds weren’t ordinary pets – they served an important function at the stadium, working alongside their falconer to prevent other birds from roosting and creating messes that would affect spectators. The theft has left their handler heartbroken and increasingly concerned about their welfare as time passes without their return.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when an opportunistic thief spotted a Kawasaki Mule Utility Task Vehicle with the keys still in the ignition. What the thief might not have initially realized was that secured to the bed of the vehicle were two green containers housing Alice and Bubba, the stadium’s avian security team. Witnesses observed the suspect driving away from SoFi Stadium property, with the vehicle last spotted in a nearby shopping area. The Inglewood Police Department has released photos of the suspect, described as a man wearing a black jacket with a white stripe down the shoulder, black pants, and black shoes, in hopes that the public might help locate both the vehicle and, more importantly, the missing hawks.
For Charles Cogger, the falconer who has worked with and cared for these birds, the theft has been emotionally devastating. “I’ve really been struggling for the last 24 hours, a lot of tears,” he told local news outlet ABC7. The bond between falconers and their birds is profound – these relationships are built on trust, daily interaction, and careful training. While Cogger still has a third hawk named Hope, the absence of Alice and Bubba has clearly left a painful void. Beyond the emotional attachment, there’s the professional relationship as well – these hawks are working animals with specific training for their role at the stadium, making them difficult to replace.
The situation has taken on increasing urgency as time passes. Cogger expressed particular concern about the birds’ survival if they aren’t returned quickly: “The problem is I really need to get them back by no later than Thursday because then that means they’ll have gone four days without water or food, and that’s pretty hard on them.” Hawks require specialized care, including appropriate feeding and hydration schedules. Without proper knowledge of how to care for raptors, the thief is unlikely to be providing the birds with what they need to survive, adding a time-sensitive element to their recovery.
This incident highlights the unique role working birds play in our modern infrastructure. Many people attending games at SoFi Stadium might never realize that trained hawks patrol the skies above them, keeping nuisance birds at bay. Falconry-based bird abatement is an environmentally friendly pest control method used at stadiums, airports, farms, and other locations where birds could create problems. Rather than using poisons or other harmful deterrents, these working raptors use their natural presence to discourage other birds from settling in. Alice and Bubba were not merely pets but skilled workers performing an ecological service that benefited thousands of spectators every game day.
As the search continues for Alice and Bubba, the case illustrates how a seemingly opportunistic vehicle theft can have far more significant consequences than the thief likely anticipated. What might have appeared to be a simple vehicle theft has endangered two living creatures, disrupted an effective and humane bird control program, and caused emotional distress to their handler. The Inglewood Police Department and Cogger are urging anyone with information about the birds’ whereabouts to come forward immediately, emphasizing that time is of the essence for the hawks’ survival. Meanwhile, SoFi Stadium faces the challenge of managing bird control without two of its feathered team members, highlighting how even the most modern facilities still rely on ancient partnerships between humans and birds of prey.
