A hawk landed on our patio railing!

[yorkietalkjilly]

One of our posters, was it Yorkiemom1(?), said that big hawks can break a small dog's back when they hit them with terrific force diving from up high so even if I had a larger Yorkie that maybe couldn't be carried off but had hawks or predator birds in my area, I'd be on high alert for them.

[bijoux1]

Ohhh that had to be scary to see him so close!!! I had a few instances with a hawk stalking my babies a few months ago. The first time I wasn't positive that it had been a hawk swooping down for my tiniest one that was maybe three feet in front of me...in fact after screaming loudly in the middle of the night, I felt like a fool thinking it had to have just been an egret.

However, days later, this hawk was out again, and after he flew towards us again...but this time he swooped down and flew just a little above my eye level, and there was absolutely no mistaking that it was indeed a hawk.

I will say that they do look quite large up close!! I have read that they can pick up almost twice their own size. I'm so very glad that you are ok, and like everyone else has said, I would definitely be extra cautious in your area. I'm so glad you and your babies were safe inside!!!

[ironmike86]

While I don't let my dog out by himself. I have had many small dogs. Lots of Hawks where I live. I don't worry about them unless they are pups. I would be afraid of Barn Owls more. They can kill your dog yes. But they won't snatch them and fly away. If your outside they usually stay away. There not picking up anything twice there size.
I see them get rabbits. Same size as a dog. They pick at them on the ground. I had a Pom It looked like a rabbit. I was always watching. But they never come close...I was always there. JME

[bijoux1]

Ironmike... I actually made a mistake that I didn't see on my reply, and I am glad that you pointed out that they wouldn't be picking up twice their own weight which is what i obviously originally typed!! LOL I meant to say that I have read that some can carry off up to 2/3 of their own size (weight) but can still kill something twice their weight!! Bc I am by no means a hawk expert of any kind... I'm just terrified of them now! I wouldn't have even thought about one swooping down on my neighborhood sidewalk until this all happened a few months ago. So anyway, thanks for the info and sorry for the earlier mistake. I don't want to be causing anyone even more fear than they already might have regarding hawks!!

[ironmike86]

Originally Posted by bijoux1

Ironmike... I actually made a mistake that I didn't see on my reply, and I am glad that you pointed out that they wouldn't be picking up twice their own weight which is what i obviously originally typed!! LOL I meant to say that I have read that some can carry off up to 2/3 of their own size (weight) but can still kill something twice their weight!! Bc I am by no means a hawk expert of any kind... I'm just terrified of them now! I wouldn't have even thought about one swooping down on my neighborhood sidewalk until this all happened a few months ago. So anyway, thanks for the info and sorry for the earlier mistake. I don't want to be causing anyone even more fear than they already might have regarding hawks!!

That was my purpose. Yes you should watch out for the birds but to gain so much fear that you don't go outside will take all the fun play away.
We have Hawks,Owls and Coyote. I worry about the Coyote the most. They do get dogs and Cats in my area

[bijoux1]

Originally Posted by ironmike86

That was my purpose. Yes you should watch out for the birds but to gain so much fear that you don't go outside will take all the fun play away.
We have Hawks,Owls and Coyote. I worry about the Coyote the most. They do get dogs and Cats in my area

I certainly wasn't trying to start a panic with misinformation!! I do think that a hawk on my patio would have definitely scared me, and I still think that had to be so scary for you!! I will say that as much as I wish it didn't, our hawk that seemed to be watching us like a hawk..lol ... definitely changed our outside time for a while..... Actually, it still does. My dogs are really tiny, and I know they could be gotten in a second...so now at night, I have trained them to go on pee pads in the garage. The thought of one of these getting my babies is just too much.. I don't envy you with coyotes!!! I am at my wits ends with the hawks and now owls that we've been hearing!! So, I certainly can't imagine having to worry about coyotes!!

[gracielove]

A hawk WILL attack an animal that they cannot carry away. It is common for them to kill an animal on the ground and eat it right there. Even if you were able to get to the animal and shew the bird away the talon wounds would be horrific should the pet survive the initial attack. A hawk will not attack if your pet is close to you but a small dog out in the open is a target for a big hawk.

Many owls are much bigger and they can carry prey away but they also can kill and eat their prey on the ground. They pick it apart and carry away what they want to save for later.

Nature can be brutal and a big bird of prey does not distinguish between a ground hog and a dog. They just go after the moving target. They just want a meal.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by ironmike86

Just the way birds are made. Whe I first saw a Blue heron. I woke up from a nap and thought wtf is that? A Pterodactyl?? They are ~4ft tall wing span of 7ft and they only weight ~6lbs. Look huge flying overhead. When you never see or heard of one before.

That is so wild! I guess birds have to be made that way to fly...I saw a beautiful whooping crane land on our neighbor's (across the street) roof the morning after my grandmother passed away. It was very tall & the wing span was probably about 7 ft, just like the blue heron u saw. This was when we used to live in Chino Hills. I never saw another after that 1 spotting. I'm not superstitious, but what a coincidence, Crane's are known in Korean folklore for happiness & eternal youth.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

One of our posters, was it Yorkiemom1(?), said that big hawks can break a small dog's back when they hit them with terrific force diving from up high so even if I had a larger Yorkie that maybe couldn't be carried off but had hawks or predator birds in my area, I'd be on high alert for them.

Yes, it was Yorkiemom1 that gave info on the important facts: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/off...8196-hawk.html

post #8 & #16, IDK how to link a single post.

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

One of our posters, was it Yorkiemom1(?), said that big hawks can break a small dog's back when they hit them with terrific force diving from up high so even if I had a larger Yorkie that maybe couldn't be carried off but had hawks or predator birds in my area, I'd be on high alert for them.

Years ago we had a minature schnauzer when we lived in the country that we thought was attacked by a coyote. Our vet said no, it was a hawk because of the injuries and the puncture wounds across his back. He was lucky, it didn't break any bones, but when we picked him up he felt like bubble wrap, like someone had put air in the lining under his skin. Our vet thought the bird had tried to carry him. I like to go out and snap pictures of them. Here is one I took a few years ago. Look at these talons!

[Charlies Mamma]

we have one that hides in the trees here were we live, Charlie weighs 12+ lbs but this hawk could take off with him I believe or at the very least hurt him badly. what is worse tho is that it is not afraid, I think that maybe some in the area feed it so it does not fear humans. we dont see it all the time but I watch very closely.

[Maximo]

Very scary Jenny! I think hawks are gorgeous, but I like them at a distance.

It's amazing to me that such big creatures are flying around in the air.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

Years ago we had a minature schnauzer when we lived in the country that we thought was attacked by a coyote. Our vet said no, it was a hawk because of the injuries and the puncture wounds across his back. He was lucky, it didn't break any bones, but when we picked him up he felt like bubble wrap, like someone had put air in the lining under his skin. Our vet thought the bird had tried to carry him. I like to go out and snap pictures of them. Here is one I took a few years ago. Look at these talons!

Your poor mini schnauzer. I'm glad he pulled through.

Gorgeous photograph that you captured.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

Years ago we had a minature schnauzer when we lived in the country that we thought was attacked by a coyote. Our vet said no, it was a hawk because of the injuries and the puncture wounds across his back. He was lucky, it didn't break any bones, but when we picked him up he felt like bubble wrap, like someone had put air in the lining under his skin. Our vet thought the bird had tried to carry him. I like to go out and snap pictures of them. Here is one I took a few years ago. Look at these talons!

OMG poor baby! I would imagine the pulling from the hawk's talons pulled his skin away from his body? I am getting goosebumps!

Wow, that is an impressive beautiful pic, but like Kristin said, '@ a distance'!