County officials say they have located an adult male red-tailed hawk that went missing from Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods last week. | Provided Photo

The Lake County Forest Preserves says they are “over the treetops excited” to report they located their injured hawk that went missing after its home was vandalized in Riverwoods.

“We are over the treetops excited to share that the red-tailed hawk, used for education programming, was recovered this afternoon!” forest preserve officials said Tuesday afternoon.

A forest preserve volunteer spotted the hawk on a six-foot high tree stump near the hawk’s home at Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods.

Environmental educators surrounded the bird until they were able to recover him.

The hawk serves as an educational ambassador to the Lake County Forest Preserves.

He had gone missing last week after his home at Ryerson Conservation Area was vandalized.

The hawk is not releasable into the wild, officials said.

It cannot survive on its own because of a left-wing injury that affects its flight, according to the Lake County Forest Preserves.

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The forest preserves sought the public’s help in locating the hawk.

“The hawk could be anywhere,” Director of Education Nan Buckardt said Monday. “Our staff has completed thorough searches at Ryerson, so we need assistance looking beyond at the forest preserve.”

“An important part of our team is now missing. We hope the public is able to assist in finding him before it’s too late,” Buckardt said.

The bird “seems healthy” after it was found Tuesday but likely lost weight after being missing for five days.

“We will have extra security around his home. Thank you to all who helped look for the hawk and reported possible sightings!” the Lake County Forest Preserves said.