Scary - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cpurser · 07-24-2009, 05:22 PM

I had the babies out in the yard playing and taking pictures when an owl flew down and scoop up something from the ground - a bug I think, we live out in the country and have lots of cicadas coming up from underground right now. I got a picture of it sitting right up in the tree. It freaked me out, I know it couldn't pick up Sarge at 8 1/2 pounds, but it scared me for Lexi. DH says he doesn't "think" owls would go for pups. Don't let the picture fool you. He was a great horned owl and he was HUGE. Does anyone know for sure ?

Cathy, mom to Sarge and Lexi

RoscoesMommy42 · 07-24-2009, 05:23 PM

I don't know, but I sure wouldn't take any chances. That would scare me too!

lexipoo · 07-24-2009, 06:07 PM

I don't exactly remember what kind of bird it was but not to long ago here in Florida a bird did swoop done and try to pick up a little dog as the mom went inside for some reason she heard her yelping and the dogs back was all torn up really bad. I would of been scared too we watch Lexi all the time...she weighs 4 lbs so I think she could easily be picked up. Sure is a beautiful owl though
Hugs Cheryl &exi

RachelGenson · 07-24-2009, 06:11 PM

I think that if whatever the owl is preying on is small enough, it would be able to pick up a puppy and a small dog. Their claws are huge. I would be very careful. They are beautiful birds though

yorkiehugs · 07-24-2009, 07:03 PM

PLEASE! PLEASE!

WATCH YOUR BABIES!!!!

About 5 years ago I had Buddy outside, now I live in a very large city. Anyway a owl swooped down, his claws as big as my hands and tried to get Buddy! I got Buddy in my arms and the owl flew around and landed less than 5 feet from me and just waited.

Sure wish I had a camera. It was awesome but terrifying!!!

Any way I took Buddy inside and called the bird sanctuary. Long story short, they told me that the birds are looking for food. That we are taking up all their habitat.

If I harmed ONE feather on this owl I would spend TEN YEARS in jail!!!!!

Anyway less than a year ago the same thing happened with a hawk!!!!!!!

Apparently, the more we build, the more food they lose to eat.

mk97 · 07-24-2009, 07:06 PM

Scary, but what a pretty owl!!! I always worry about this when my 3.2 and 3.8 lb babies are out there.

Mommy2Lacey · 07-24-2009, 07:21 PM

OMG!
We have an owl in our tree and Lacey is only 3lbs. Sure she is never out of my site and I watch her like a hawk but my God I'm scared to death for sure now.

MrsConner_07 · 07-25-2009, 03:22 AM

I wouldn't take any chances I don't see why that owl couldn't pick up your 1.5/2.5 pound puppy owls eat small rodents. I live in the country and we have hawks,owls etc. I've seen one scoop up a little possum before.

Darlene68 · 07-25-2009, 03:26 AM

Please be careful of your little ones! A owl scooped up a couple of small dogs in my area last year, luckily one was tied on and the owl couldn't get away with him, but a couple of people lost their pets

Soccer50 · 07-25-2009, 03:27 AM

It is a gorgeous owl. Wish I could get to see one where I live.

Yes, I would watch your little baby very closely when you are outside.
And they are looking for more food. We as humans have taken up atleast 30% MORE
of their habitat in the last 2 years ):

sugarmamma · 07-25-2009, 04:19 AM

OMG

I never leave Sugar outside alone.....but she IS sometimes about 15 feet away.....too far IMHO

roxies_mom · 07-25-2009, 05:02 AM

One night before we had Roxie a few years back, we heard some loud squealing outside. Thought maybe it was our cat (all 20 lbs. of him). But an owl had swooped down on a rabbit. I didn't know rabbits could squeal like that. I've never really seen them during the day because I think owl's are noc-ternal. So for that owl to be flying around during the day sounds odd to me. But maybe they do? I'm not even sure if the owl picked up the rabbit or just came down on it in the yard. I just know that if it will go after a rabbit for food it might see a small enough dog as prey too. Just always err on the side of caution.
Yesterday hubby and I were outside when he was home for lunch. He's a falconer so knows his hawks. He saw a cooper's hawk flying around and I decided to make Roxie go inside, hubby said those mostly just eat mice and stuff like that. I don't care to take any chances. I've seen what some of these hawks and falcons can do and my roxie isn't going to be someones lunch.

BLowry · 07-25-2009, 07:02 AM

wow! he/she is gorgeous!!

I believe that an owl could scoop up a small animal...and even if they couldn't imagine the damage they could do with those talons!! Twice, I seen a hawk flying above me when I had the girls out side...I would NEVER take a chance and think they wouldn't at least try to take them...My girls are 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 lbs...I really believe a hawk or owl could scoop them up.

shawnzeppi · 07-25-2009, 07:18 AM

Nice pic. Owls are so impressive.

A lot of us worry about wild life attacking our yorkies. We have many foxes, owls, hawks and I've even seen a coyote once and we live in the burbs; but have lots of woods around...

I thought I remembered reading threads about owl attacks in the past, or even news articles. I googled and found this:

Owl News - Great Horned Owls pose a threat to small animals

cpurser · 07-25-2009, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the link Shawnzeppi--- Great information. I couldn't believe an owl tried to get a 10 lb dog--- So much for my husbands owl knowledge. I'll just have to be right beside them when they are outside off leash. It is very unusual to see one during the day, but it was about 5 o'clock I had seen a couple of owls before, but I hadn't realize how long their talons were, until I took the picture. Thanks all for your input!
Cathy, mom to Sarge and Lexi

07-24-2009, 05:22 PM	#1
cpurser Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cochran, GA Posts: 209	Scary I had the babies out in the yard playing and taking pictures when an owl flew down and scoop up something from the ground - a bug I think, we live out in the country and have lots of cicadas coming up from underground right now. I got a picture of it sitting right up in the tree. It freaked me out, I know it couldn't pick up Sarge at 8 1/2 pounds, but it scared me for Lexi. DH says he doesn't "think" owls would go for pups. Don't let the picture fool you. He was a great horned owl and he was HUGE. Does anyone know for sure ? Cathy, mom to Sarge and Lexi Attached Thumbnails

07-24-2009, 05:23 PM	#2
RoscoesMommy42 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Morristown, TN Posts: 3,736	I don't know, but I sure wouldn't take any chances. That would scare me too! __________________ Hello and hugs from Kristie & the furbabies! A world without yorkies is not a very bright one

07-24-2009, 06:11 PM	#4
RachelGenson Ben's Mommy Donating Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York Posts: 1,024	I think that if whatever the owl is preying on is small enough, it would be able to pick up a puppy and a small dog. Their claws are huge. I would be very careful. They are beautiful birds though __________________ Rachel -n- Ben

07-24-2009, 07:03 PM	#5
yorkiehugs Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Yorkieville Posts: 212	A Must Read!!!!! PLEASE! PLEASE! WATCH YOUR BABIES!!!! About 5 years ago I had Buddy outside, now I live in a very large city. Anyway a owl swooped down, his claws as big as my hands and tried to get Buddy! I got Buddy in my arms and the owl flew around and landed less than 5 feet from me and just waited. Sure wish I had a camera. It was awesome but terrifying!!! Any way I took Buddy inside and called the bird sanctuary. Long story short, they told me that the birds are looking for food. That we are taking up all their habitat. If I harmed ONE feather on this owl I would spend TEN YEARS in jail!!!!! Anyway less than a year ago the same thing happened with a hawk!!!!!!! Apparently, the more we build, the more food they lose to eat.

07-25-2009, 03:26 AM	#9
Darlene68 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,923	Please be careful of your little ones! A owl scooped up a couple of small dogs in my area last year, luckily one was tied on and the owl couldn't get away with him, but a couple of people lost their pets __________________ Darlene Bailey Blu & Jesse Bee

07-24-2009, 06:07 PM	#3
lexipoo Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,892	I don't exactly remember what kind of bird it was but not to long ago here in Florida a bird did swoop done and try to pick up a little dog as the mom went inside for some reason she heard her yelping and the dogs back was all torn up really bad. I would of been scared too we watch Lexi all the time...she weighs 4 lbs so I think she could easily be picked up. Sure is a beautiful owl though Hugs Cheryl &exi

07-24-2009, 07:06 PM	#6
mk97 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Herndon, PA originally--Jacksonville, FL currently Posts: 169	Scary, but what a pretty owl!!! I always worry about this when my 3.2 and 3.8 lb babies are out there.

07-24-2009, 07:21 PM	#7
Mommy2Lacey Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sparta,TN,USA Posts: 137	OMG! We have an owl in our tree and Lacey is only 3lbs. Sure she is never out of my site and I watch her like a hawk but my God I'm scared to death for sure now.

07-25-2009, 03:22 AM	#8
MrsConner_07 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Port Arthur,Tx Posts: 26	I wouldn't take any chances I don't see why that owl couldn't pick up your 1.5/2.5 pound puppy owls eat small rodents. I live in the country and we have hawks,owls etc. I've seen one scoop up a little possum before.

07-25-2009, 03:27 AM	#10
Soccer50 YT Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 270	It is a gorgeous owl. Wish I could get to see one where I live. Yes, I would watch your little baby very closely when you are outside. And they are looking for more food. We as humans have taken up atleast 30% MORE of their habitat in the last 2 years ): __________________ Riley Bella My Pride & Joy

07-25-2009, 04:19 AM	#11
sugarmamma Donating YT 18K Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Yorkie Zoo Posts: 34,152	OMG I never leave Sugar outside alone.....but she IS sometimes about 15 feet away.....too far IMHO

07-25-2009, 05:02 AM	#12
roxies_mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: central illinois Posts: 1,396 Blog Entries: 1	One night before we had Roxie a few years back, we heard some loud squealing outside. Thought maybe it was our cat (all 20 lbs. of him). But an owl had swooped down on a rabbit. I didn't know rabbits could squeal like that. I've never really seen them during the day because I think owl's are noc-ternal. So for that owl to be flying around during the day sounds odd to me. But maybe they do? I'm not even sure if the owl picked up the rabbit or just came down on it in the yard. I just know that if it will go after a rabbit for food it might see a small enough dog as prey too. Just always err on the side of caution. Yesterday hubby and I were outside when he was home for lunch. He's a falconer so knows his hawks. He saw a cooper's hawk flying around and I decided to make Roxie go inside, hubby said those mostly just eat mice and stuff like that. I don't care to take any chances. I've seen what some of these hawks and falcons can do and my roxie isn't going to be someones lunch. __________________ "My sunshine doesn't come from the skies, it comes from the love in my dogs eyes"

07-25-2009, 07:02 AM	#13
BLowry My furkids Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,625 Blog Entries: 1	wow! he/she is gorgeous!! I believe that an owl could scoop up a small animal...and even if they couldn't imagine the damage they could do with those talons!! Twice, I seen a hawk flying above me when I had the girls out side...I would NEVER take a chance and think they wouldn't at least try to take them...My girls are 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 lbs...I really believe a hawk or owl could scoop them up. __________________ Brenda

07-25-2009, 07:18 AM	#14
shawnzeppi YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Springfield, va Posts: 457	Nice pic. Owls are so impressive. A lot of us worry about wild life attacking our yorkies. We have many foxes, owls, hawks and I've even seen a coyote once and we live in the burbs; but have lots of woods around... I thought I remembered reading threads about owl attacks in the past, or even news articles. I googled and found this: Owl News - Great Horned Owls pose a threat to small animals

07-25-2009, 03:39 PM	#15
cpurser Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cochran, GA Posts: 209	Thanks for the link Shawnzeppi--- Great information. I couldn't believe an owl tried to get a 10 lb dog--- So much for my husbands owl knowledge. I'll just have to be right beside them when they are outside off leash. It is very unusual to see one during the day, but it was about 5 o'clock I had seen a couple of owls before, but I hadn't realize how long their talons were, until I took the picture. Thanks all for your input! Cathy, mom to Sarge and Lexi