Research Question - When to forgo with reality

C.J. Rockwell said:

Have you ever found anything in your research that while is accurate and interesting, you chose not to include it because it would somehow interfere with where you want to story to go?

This is something I'm debating in a story I'm working out. In my research I found out the long-tailed weasel (The same species my MC is) is hunted by Hawks. But I need a Hawk to be on the same side as the weasels in my story, for their keen eyesight and ability to fly.

Is it okay to forgo with reality if this is how my story needs to go?

If so, how do you strike a balance between real facts to stick to, and when to take out some aspects of what you learned to keep your story working?

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Maybe you could have a compromise of sorts by showing the weasels and the hawk making a pact for some reason.

This is something I'm debating in a story I'm working out. In my research I found out the long-tailed weasel (The same species my MC is) is hunted by Hawks. But I need a Hawk to be on the same side as the weasels in my story, for their keen eyesight and ability to fly.

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I'd say it's like the rest - no rules. I mean, I've seen books about talking toasters, so why not a weasel and a hawk becoming friends ?

That being said, if you prefer to stick to reality, you could either do what Tex said above, or use another species than the hawk. Or even just a different kind of hawks. For instance, the Merlin is so small that it would have a hard time fighting a weasel.

Edit : I checked and the merlins don't seem to hunt weasels. See by yourself (taken from wikipedia) : "Most of their prey are smallish birds (10-40 g), with local preferences for larks, pipits, sandpipers and House Sparrows. Almost any bird that is locally abundant will be taken, up to the size of Rock Pigeons. Breeding pairs will frequently hunt cooperatively, with one bird flushing the victims towards their mate. Other prey includes insects (especially dragonflies and moths), small mammals (especially bats and voles) and reptiles."

You already have a fantasy story with talking animals. I would see no reason not to go a step further and have the hawk be their friend. I have seen many stories of cats and mice being friends.

BTW I have read your book and love it and am looking forward to reading more.