Dirt biker saves hawk covered in painful spikes

A hawk covered in cactus spikes has been rescued from a painful end by a dirt biker in the Arizona desert.

The man was riding through the Table Mesa, Arizona, when he noticed a female bird covered in 'chollas', barbed spikes found on the cactus Cylindropuntia.

The man said he saw the bird of prey was not flying well, so he chased it down.

Brandishing a large knife and with the skill of a surgeon, the man meticulously removes the chollas, which are notoriously hard to remove.

"F—k, she's got one on her tongue," the man says.

Incredibly, the hawk does not struggle throughout the ordeal, accepting the bearded biker's help.

"Here you go, buddy," the biker can he heard telling the bird.

The hawke is then released spike-free to fly again, and takes to the skies.

Yesterday it was reported a Canadian dog owner had received more than $14,000 from online donations to save his three dogs that had been badly hurt in a scuffle with a porcupine.