Hawks in area - NOW THERE ARE TWO!!!

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Here is an article I found:

Tips for Scaring Off Returning Hawks at Bird Feeders, Page 2 of 2 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

It says to use a plastic owl??! I don't know if it works but it might be worth a shot.

I live in Arkansas. We have hawks too and I am very careful to watch for them and owls around Rosie. Some people say a hawk will not get a dog but an owl will for sure. They say the hawk will grab it but can't carry the weight. I really don't know and I really don't want to take any chances.

The best way to get rid of the hawk would be to call some of them Arkansas Rednecks! Ha ha. Problem will be solved.

[Julie1760]

We had hawks in our area last year. I hung old cd's from our clothesline and put shiny prism pinwheels all over the fence line. I found some at wal-mart in the kids section and at our TruValue store.

Since putting them up, we haven't had any birds of prey in the yard.

[Ladymom]

OMG! How scary!

I still remember my experience with a hawk when I lived in New York. We had a heavy wire bolted between two corners on the back of our house to hand bird feeders on. We had a suet cake hanging from the wire. I think that is what the hawk was after. He swooped down and ripped the entire wire out of the house and flew away with the suet feeder with the wire still attached. His wingspan was unbelievable. I have no doubt how easy it would be for a hawk to pick up a small dog or cat after seeing that.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

Some people say a hawk will not get a dog but an owl will for sure. They say the hawk will grab it but can't carry the weight. I really don't know and I really don't want to take any chances.

Idk, I thought hawks snatch up jack rabbits when they can catch them, so I don't think a 5lb yorkie would be a problem for them. I've never been up close to a hawk before, but I hear they are pretty huge and will snatch up small dogs and cats...though I can see how a cat would present a challenge, with the claws and all, but yorkies main defense it seems is to wiggle around and look cute...so always got to look out for these guys. Good luck with the shiney stuff!

[beader]

I also put up CD's in the trees with fish line so they could spin in the sun. The hawks and eagles were getting my chickens and that stopped them.

[cley]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

I have been seeing a "pair" of hawks sitting in the neighbors' trees even before the trees got their leaves this year. We normally aren't at our home for long but I have been here since the 28th of February. Today I saw a third one and the pair! Trust me, Toto is never in the yard more than 10 minutes and is always, always accompanied by me! If one ever, ever swoopes down after her, the blasted thing is dead ... I don't care how "protected" they are. I'm sorry if there are "advocates" for these awful creatures or not but there is absolutely nothing so important to me as my sweet baby girl!!

I hear ya!!!

[ritapatt]

I keep an eye out for rodents in the yard and at the seawall. As much as I complain about the neighbor feeding 2 feral cats- they seem to be doing a good job, I haven't seen as many big birds around lately.I keep Ziva in a fenced part of the yard but it's still close to the dock so I don't ever leave her alone..

[107barney]

I'm not done with my research but so far this is what I found out -

~Hawks are usually under 3 lbs (3 lbs is their max)
~They can carry no more than 1/2 of their body weight
~Their diet is comprised of approx. 85% rodents, the rest other small pray
~The biggest danger is their talons for our yorkies. These claws are designed to puncture and pierce the kill.

I'm reading a lot written by an ornithologist with 40 years of experience with birds including birds of pray and he keeps saying that hawks wont hunt yorkies and cannot carry them off.

I'm going to email him, contact the audobon society and my state wildlife and do more research. I'll try to be back soon with more...couple of days!

Until then, I'm watching these birds like a hawk.

[jencar98]

Hawks are a big problem for small dog owners here. Crows and owls are enemies of hawks. DH bought crow and owl decoys from Bass Pro, placed them along the fence and several places throughout our yard. Before he put the decoys out, I had a hawk fly at eye level across our back yard one day.....since the decoys have been up, I haven't had any hawks in *our* yard, although I still see them flying in the neighborhood.

The best protection for your small dogs.....DO NOT EVER leave them unattended outside. No matter what protective devices we come up with, all it takes is a few seconds for a bird of prey to swoop down and carry off a yorkie.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by jencar98

Hawks are a big problem for small dog owners here. Crows and owls are enemies of hawks. DH bought crow and owl decoys from Bass Pro, placed them along the fence and several places throughout our yard. Before he put the decoys out, I had a hawk fly at eye level across our back yard one day.....since the decoys have been up, I haven't had any hawks in *our* yard, although I still see them flying in the neighborhood.

The best protection for your small dogs.....DO NOT EVER leave them unattended outside. No matter what protective devices we come up with, all it takes is a few seconds for a bird of prey to swoop down and carry off a yorkie.

I don't know. I keep reading over and over and over that a hawk cannot "carry off" a small dog, that it is physically impossible. That makes sense to me.

I have submitted my question to the ornithologist and I'll report back on what he says, if he answers. I will also share info from the other sources when I get it. I think it is important to get facts and not just perpetuate our fears on this otherwise none of us are ever going to let our dogs out again.

As for decoys and plastic lawn ornaments and stuff - waiting for PeachBongi to win that there scratch off so they can come on up here with a plastic flamingo and some plastic owls and shiny balls and put them all around that there yard and scare off them mean hawks. Maybe she can bring a little of that redneck strawberry jello for us to enjoy out in the yard with all the plastic decoys, shiny CDs and garden globes.

I think I might really be in hell.

[only2xnseya]

OMG im sorry yall have to deal with that because Im in New Jersey (in the city 10 mins from NY). But i had watch that movie the Proposal with sandra bullock how that eagle swooped down and picked up that small dogs. Just remember its you or them and you will never have to worry.

Also remember a man beat up a crocodile in florida for his 5 year old daughter. Any means necessary when it comes to a child!.

[hugz4all4]

I have hawks in my area also, two very large ones that I see on a weekly basis. One swooped down on my 4 pound poodle last year and I freaked out..I started waving my hands and hollering and it went away. Whenever I see them in the sky I wave my hands, sticks whatever I can find at the moment and it generally scares them away. Never let your dogs out with out you being there and always keep them within reach so if you do see one you can grab your dog at all times. I have bigger dogs also and even though they dont swooped down on them, they are arent bothered by them either. My dogs dont go outside with out leashes.. this being one of the main reasons why.. I hope you can find something that will scare them off.

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I'm not done with my research but so far this is what I found out -

~Hawks are usually under 3 lbs (3 lbs is their max)
~They can carry no more than 1/2 of their body weight
~Their diet is comprised of approx. 85% rodents, the rest other small pray
~The biggest danger is their talons for our yorkies. These claws are designed to puncture and pierce the kill.

I'm reading a lot written by an ornithologist with 40 years of experience with birds including birds of pray and he keeps saying that hawks wont hunt yorkies and cannot carry them off.

I'm going to email him, contact the audobon society and my state wildlife and do more research. I'll try to be back soon with more...couple of days!

Until then, I'm watching these birds like a hawk.

they may not be physically able to carry off a yorkie or other small dogs but they sure as hell can try, hurting or even killing our dogs with their talons and dropping them to the ground. There has been stories in the news on how small dogs have been carried away by predator birds.. so it can happen..

[gemy]

I posted before in another thread, this is about Turkey Vultures, and they nest out at a lake we go to for swimming.

We had our three dogs out swimming a bit later in the day 4-5 pm or so. There were these birds circling off east end of lake. We have one Yorkie and two Big Dogs. all in the water. They kept circling nearer n nearer. Till they looked like maybe 20 linear yards out and up. I said to hubby look at those.

then it clicked they were hunting my Razzle man. My yorkie. Well I got him out of the water and in my arms and then into the car crate, those Turkey Vultures stopped circling and flew away all the way to the other end of the lake. co -incidence? I think not.

So I can attest having big dogs, doesnt protect your wee one, in certain circumstances.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by hugz4all4

I have hawks in my area also, two very large ones that I see on a weekly basis. One swooped down on my 4 pound poodle last year and I freaked out..I started waving my hands and hollering and it went away. Whenever I see them in the sky I wave my hands, sticks whatever I can find at the moment and it generally scares them away. Never let your dogs out with out you being there and always keep them within reach so if you do see one you can grab your dog at all times. I have bigger dogs also and even though they dont swooped down on them, they are arent bothered by them either. My dogs dont go outside with out leashes.. this being one of the main reasons why.. I hope you can find something that will scare them off.

I agree with how you get rid of the hawks. I asked my husband the best way to scare off a hawk. He is an avid outdoors man. We have a lot of property that is wooded and has a variety of animals. So, he is not an expert by an means, however, he has some experience with different animals. He says the best thing to scare them is a human. I think you are doing the right thing by waving your hands and sticks. He said you were right on target. Many are posting not to leave our babies unattended outside and I think that is the best advice for this problem! Again, good luck and hopefully they will just go away soon!