Hawks!

[MandiesMom]

The only time I've ever seen an eagle out in nature and in person was when I was living in Maryland. I was driving to Virginia and I think it was right there at the Patuxent river area. It was so cool!

[yorkiemini]

I'm certainly no expert on hawks , but I encourage everyone not to underestimate them. When my Cali was attacked by one I could not believe it. We live in suburbia, but I had seem some of them around so was on the look out for them. We had a miracle and Cali survived, it she has been swooped at since then. It does distress me that she cannot go out unattended in her own back yard, but I have just resolved to always be there with her. She does wear a "spiked" coat that I made her - it has not been tested, fortunately, but it does make me feel like she might survive if she were attacked again because the hawk would have a hard time finding a place to hang-on to her. The fish and wildlife folks were very helpful in explaining how hawks get their pray. They are real efficient predatory machines!

[MandiesMom]

Just thought I'd post what happened to me tonight after work...

Took the pups out as I always do..Mandie in her orange vest as usual. We are all on one end of the yard and they decide to run to the other end of the yard. So, here I go trying to keep up. All of the sudden, I see HUGE white wings flying from that fence corner and towards my front yard. Luckily, I have a big dog (Shelby) who barks like crazy at birds..especially ones that big and that low to the ground. He basically chased the owl off, but Mandie was scooped up and put inside..to her dismay.

Again, they are all beautiful birds, but they make life around here a living hell. *sigh*

[Lucyana1129]

Oh my goodness! I'm glad she is okay! Our boxer also sounds the alarm when she sees birds or squirrels....or anything. Haha!

[celstu1]

I really want a big dog. I am working on hubby to let me get a Doberman puppy. I really want to get a puppy so it can grow up with my 2 little guys and be ok with them when it's much bigger. I promised hubby that it would not sleep in the bed with us like the little ones, but he's not biting yet. I think a bigger dog would deter coyotes, foxes and big birds too. Last summer I got out of my car at work and I just heard a weird noise right behind my head and saw a shadow coming in so I instinctively ducked. A golden Hawk flew where my head was and swooped down to pick up something in the grass and flew off. It was about 5 feet in front of me. GORGEOUS bird!

[Cha Cha]

Ugg, they seem really desperate for food this year. There's been a hawk hanging around my house too. This winter has been the first time I've been nervous about hawks in our neighborhood. I came home the other day with feathers all strewn about my back yard. There were so many feathers but no injured bird to be found and I have a 6 foot tightly boarded privacy fence so it didn't just hop away. There were too many feathers for that bird to be alive anywhere. The only explanation is a hawk attacked it in my yard and carried it away. That makes the second incident recently involving a hawk in yard.

We are in a disaster delcared severe drout region. I imagine lack of water means lack of food for these birds in their natural habitat as we don't normally have a problem with them. They are patient hunters. They will stalk and wait for the perfect opportunity to attack.

[Lucyana1129]

To add to the hawks....DH saw a red wolf on his way home from work last night o_O! He said it looked different than the coyotes he has seen and that it was a wolf.

[wisteria]

First I am assuming you are a service family, so let me say THANK YOU! Next just keep your little one safe.............................

[gracielove]

We have had several thread about hawk attacks on YT. The hawk population seems to be increasing in certain areas. You are wise to protect your little dog. Those birds consider that their area and they watch everything that moves. Owls are especially good hunters and they hunt well after the sun comes up. Just keep your little guy on a short leash when you walk him. Birds can attack from behind and you never hear them coming. When they are young and hungry they do some crazy things.

[normarae63]

I know I mentioned looking out for rapture pellets in your yards but then realized until you see one you may not even know what they look like.
hawk pellets - Google Search

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

I read an article about Hawks and Owls. This guy studied them- he said be aware of hawks if you have a small dog, but be scared of owls if you have a small dog. Owls are far more dangerous than hawks. He said Hawks need enough room to swoop down, pick the prey up and fly up. Hawks will never take what they can’t finish. Hawks if in a tree or sitting somewhere you can see them and maybe get close to them, the hawk ( if you get close enough) will fly away. An owl is a different story, they will sit in a tree with you being right under them, then when giving the chance they will swoop down and grab their prey. They will take what they can get, and waste what they don’t eat. I’m not sure how accurate this guy is, but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

I have to say, I think I have read the same article. Also, it seems that you can almost see what a hawk is thinking but an owl will strike without giving any indication that's what is about to happen. Please do be careful! Eagles are to be feared when you have a small pup too!