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Originally Posted by Gew  Thanks. I read the article. It was very informative. I had read lots and called the raptor group here. She was aware of the increase in the number of red tailed hawks in my area. We also have an owl who lives near the river. She suggested short leads for each dog. Yes, that is safest, but I feel so badly having fenced in an acre for them to enjoy, to limit them to six feet.
Our yard is clear so a great visual field. Behind us are acres of green space which is protected. We thought of a covered area, but how? Pergola?
We will get a few scarecrows. I can't use a shotgun in this area. We carry the horn and/or whistle. I just hoped someone had a "magic" cure.
Again thanks.
Gew |
Our yard is also a hawk range. We can hear them overhead and see them circling. Luckily, the surrounding unsettled hills have snakes, rabbits and other food for them but we still know that our barely 5 lb little yorkie would be a tasty meal. We also have owls and are in a mule deer range (a mini dachshund we had was stomped by a deer!).
We have tried scarecrows to no avail. We have tried whirly-gigs to no avail. But the one thing that seems to have worked, maybe a little bit, is to invite competing bird species. We have large stellar jays (they LOVE to eat giant sunflower seeds right off the plant). And a variety of robins, brewers crows, large crows, and song birds inhabit our acre. Still occasionally we will find a hawk taking up a look out in a nearby tree.
We also have a few trees that provide cover in the areas our little girl likes to explore.
We are still careful not to fool ourselves into thinking any of this is foolproof lest we become the fools. We are always out and listening and watching.