Please, everyone look out for hawks!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

This evening Cali killed a hawk that attacked her....

I am so glad Cali is safe and that she won over the hawk! You must have been terrified.

Originally Posted by my2boyz

I'm so glad she is o.k.

My husband thinks I'm paranoid because the girls are bigger and he doesn't think a hawk would try to grab either of them. Well, I have seen them sitting on the wire above our fence and in the tree at the side of the yard watching my girls...maybe they couldn't take off with one of them but they could do some damage trying!

Please be careful no matter what size your dogs are.

My father thought I was ridiculous worrying about the hawks because my boys are bigger. Then our neighbor's Yorkie, who is also bigger, was attacked and nearly killed. The hawk tore open the Yorkie's side with its talons.

[mamaj]

We have hawks here, so Trinket has never been out of my arms outside. I got her a portable x pen with a top so when the weather cools down a bit, I can take her out.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Yes, it is more complicated because they are a protected species with fines and such if you harm/kill them. The first thing I was asked was if I had killed the hawk, because I would have been in trouble. At first the Animal Control guy did not believe Cali had done the job - he said she was too small. Thought I was in trouble for a moment. My neighborhood is where all the cops in the city live, and they told the Animal Control fellow that Cali was a terrier and that is what terriers were bred to do

Still think we were big time lucky!

Wow, how interesting about Animal Control and their first question to you, Jay. Cali looks so sweet and innocent. Glad she is a tough one!

Sometimes the hawks swoop around here too. When I said something about that to my hunting neighbor, he told me that this suburb has a $10,000 fine for shooting a hawk. Hmmm.

[bobohyde]

Also, be on the look out for owls. I met someone a couple years ago whose yorkie was killed by an owl.

[JMuedog]

I can't believe she killed it! Need to start calling her Super Cali!

[lilbumbleybees]

That is amazing! We have many, many hawks here and I have to constantly stand watch during the day when they're out. I have to watch when they potty at night too because of owls!

[navillusc]

OMG...how terrifying! And to top it off, AC didn't even want to believe Cali was capable after you'd given them an eye witness account! Wow!

It is amazing, though, how fast the 'DNA' kicks in. We do not think of the little ruffle-and-bow wearing lap warmers as hawk or rodent killers. Yet, in half the blink of an eye, a 3 lb 14 oz snuggle buddy (1) identified an unknown, larger than herself, previously unseen object as an attacker, (2) reacted to defend herself and/or her territory, (3) repositioned herself properly for a target that was NOT what she was bred to eliminate, and (4) killed it by pure INSTINCT...never having any training or prior practice other than play! We simply cannot give Yorkshire Terriers adequate respect for what they are capable of, since, clearly, we honestly cannot fathom the talents they possess.

I am so glad that Cali is okay, and that your heart is still beating...and I'll bet your watch is wound nice and tight now, too...lol Someone else in Florida posted about the fishing line...which is quite effective...just, if I was to string line, I'd make absolutely certain it was out of the reach of running human heads...I'd not be willing to risk unwanted consequences.

Oh, and I don't think I'd choose a 'Big Bird' costume for Halloween and tease, sneak up on, or surprise Cali...now that she's experienced and all. <just kidding, of course>

[BabyGirl Rosie]

It's up to a $15000 fine and 6 months in jail where I live!

[wisteria]

GO Cali..............she is a very lucky girl!!! We are full time RV'ers and I NEVER let my Bella be more than 3-4 feet from me at all times and NEVER let her out in her pen. I see people do it all the time.....I worry about the little ones. They set up their pen and put them in there and the people go back in the RV, run to the office etc. This is just so wrong on so many levels. But again, thank goodness she is a fighter!

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

At first the Animal Control guy did not believe Cali had done the job - he said she was too small.

It's pretty clear he knows absolutely nothing about the Yorkshire Breed !

But one thing is pretty clear, IF some stupid Protected Species gets torn up in my yard (and it has happened) I get a Rake and a Plastic Bag, and don't mention it to anyone but here.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by navillusc

OMG...how terrifying!
It is amazing, though, how fast the 'DNA' kicks in. We do not think of the little ruffle-and-bow wearing lap warmers as hawk or rodent killers. Yet, in half the blink of an eye, a 3 lb 14 oz snuggle buddy (1) identified an unknown, larger than herself, previously unseen object as an attacker, (2) reacted to defend herself and/or her territory, (3) repositioned herself properly for a target that was NOT what she was bred to eliminate, and (4) killed it by pure INSTINCT...never having any training or prior practice other than play! We simply cannot give Yorkshire Terriers adequate respect for what they are capable of, since, clearly, we honestly cannot fathom the talents they posses.

I am so happy that this terrifyingly true story has a happy ending!
Go Cali !!!

[Lap Princess]

Wow, little Cali is awesome! Glad you had somewhat happy ending--for Cali, at least. Must have been a juvenile hawk, because the adults rarely miss.

Not sure why all this hatred of hawks. Being an avid birder, I love hawks! Matter of fact raptors are my favorite birds. We all just need to be aware of the nature around us. Our babies look like lunch to predator animals--simple as that.

I live in Colorado, a.k.a. the Wild Kingdom. We have all manner of predator birds, bobcats, fox, coyotes, etc. A coyote almost got my Lexie while walking on leash, so I'm always aware of my surroundings & what might be lurking. Dawn & dusk are the most dangerous times of the day. Hawks are always shadowing us, and I make sure they know I see them--no sneak attacks are gonna happen!

(And the reason you can't harm any bird is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Link: Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
Fines are up to $15,000.)

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by navillusc

we honestly cannot fathom the talents they possess.

I'm not sure I totally agree with you on that...
Just read up on how Yorkies were bred, they were designed to take on some very mean Varmints, and do so quite easily. They're alert, quick and surprisingly vicious under the right circumstances (trust me, I've seen it happen), and have an instinctual ability to size up a situation, knowing weather to attack, stand ground or retreat.

My Female Becca is an 8 pounder, and My Male Sneakers is just over 13 lbs. I have absolutely no worries about letting them go out whenever they want (have a Doggy Door for them).

I don't think that anyone here with a Yorkie that weighs 4 lbs or more, has any need to worry about any average size Hawk. Also, it's quite easy to overestimate the actual size of Bird like that. Don't let the wingspan fool you, they aren't all that big when it comes down to it, and absolutely no match for a bored Yorkie.

[Lap Princess]

Boy, I sure wouldn't take my chances with a hawk. They are very efficient killing machines. They will kill whatever they can catch. They use they rear talon to break the spine or puncture the skull to immobilize.

An adult female Red-tail hawk weighs about 2.5 lbs with a 5-foot wingspan, and can easily carry off an adult cottontail rabbit, which often weighs more than 3 lbs. What they can't carry off, they will leave and eat on the spot. Red-tails are in all 50 states, even in urban areas.

An 8 lb. yorkie is NOT safe!

Oh, and a female Golden Eagle weighs up to 15 lbs. and can kill a deer or antelope, which weighs more than me! Not that they are a typical threat most places.

[SWHouston]

I'm sure that there are numerous instances, where one could compare a Rabbit to a Yorkie....