Hawks!
 

We just recently moved here to TN from San Diego. We lived in base housing in CA but here we live out in the country. I'm not used to seeing hawks so frequently. I don't know if it's just a time of the year thing or what but they are everywhere. They hang out in the trees surrounding our backyard. It's pretty scary bc Bentley is only 4.5lbs. I feel bad bc he never gets the opportunity to play outside like our bigger dogs do but Im terrified of those hawks. I even saw an owl hanging out in our front yard recently. Maybe I'm just so used to the city and overreacting. It's 20 degrees outside and I go out there with him every single time. Just a heads up for anyone in the Tipton county area, keep a close eye on your little one while outside. I see at least 5 a day!

smart move. i would watch him like a hawk around those varmits. ;)

Yes please be careful. I live near Temecula Ca (Riverside Ca), my house is backed up on a hill- Beyond my fence is acres of land- I see hawks daily! They fly right over my head most of the time. They are always swarming above behind my house looking for anything to eat! Also watch out for those owls!! I hear them at night- luckily DH made Peanut a dog cage outside- it connects to the doggy door- DH also put a chain link on the top so nothing can go in there.

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 will try to find that article- it was pretty interesting.

Unfortunately, it's not the time of year. You are going to have this issue year round. I have hawks and owls. I moved into my current home in June..had them then..still have them just as bad now in January.

Can you set up a covered dog run outside for your pup? I can't because I have a larger dog that needs to run full force to get his exercise. I did hang aluminum pie plates around the yard from tree branches and Mandie always wears a bright orange vest when outside. The birds can see color and this orange was recommended. Putting some reflective tape on the vest is a good idea too.

With that said, I still never let Mandie outside alone and I'm always ALWAYS walking around the yard when she is out there...I'm never sitting. Always have my eyes on the treelines and skies. Sadly, this is our life if I want her to be able to play like she should be able to.

We also have a boxer. She needs the whole yard to run or she will be terrible inside. Hehe! Ill just have to keep going out with him. Great suggestion on the reflective vest! It's so cold right now that he goes out, does his thing, and wants to go back in. I just keep my boots, jacket and scarf by the back door :) It really is scary tho! The owl freaked me out most for sure! He was just sitting in the middle of our front yard. That day I came in and informed the entire household that Bentley was no longer allowed out without supervision.

Please continue to be careful. Both hawks and owls are very dangerous.

Our neighbor's Yorkie weighs over 9 pounds and was attacked by a hawk last year. Thankfully, the dog survived, but he had to have a lot of surgery on his abdomen.

We have hawks, but Ive never seen an owl around our house, they are there more than likely since DH's parents live 1 mile away and his Mom tells me how she LOVES listening to the owls at night. My babies were targeted by 2 hawks once when we were in the pool area. We could see them circling and hear them screaming... I was too worried to keep the dogs outside, so right as I told DH I wanted them inside, no sooner did he get Fletcher and I got Dex, they swooped down so low behind him, he ducked because he thought they were that close. We had to leave the poor dogs inside for at least 2 hours.

I just want to mention that if you have hawks or owls around you also need to be on the lookout for their pellets as they contain undigested bones, fur & whatever else :eek:

Didn't even think about their pellets! Bentley doesn't tend to eat random things like that outside but out boxer...she eats everything. Thanks for the reminder! Ill be on the lookout for sure.

When we lived in the country we had both. The owls were more of an issue at night and can be doubly dangerous because you cannot see them flying in in the dark until its to late. We had one swoop down on Lolita once but thankfully she was coming down the steps and ducked and DH scooped her up in time. He didn't see the owl until it was right there. A hawk did this with Laddy when he was a tiny puppy also. These birds can be very scary.

Hawks, eagles and owls are around all year round.

Here are a few things you can try to deter hawks and owls. First is mirrors facing straight up. Reflects light and also the get a glimpse of themselves. Second thing is owl or hawk sound being played outside when you see them. They might go away. Think they are Imposing on another's territory. The third is air horn or bike horn. But you do have to desensitize your dog against the sound.

Please remember though these raptors are beneficial to our Eco system . They keep down rats, mice and snakes. Especially in the country areas.

I love watching hawks. Every time I see one around my house I just sit there and watch them glide in the sky- They are beautiful birds. I love Eagles as well, but I don’t have any where I live, so I only get to watch Hawks and Falcons!

There were 3 with their eyes on my babies yesterday. Makes me a nerves wreck.

Yes, they are very beneficial and very gorgeous to watch. I just wish they'd be beneficial and gorgeous over THERE ----------------->>

:D

I love raptors. I was suppose to get my falconry license before I got hurt. I live on a ridge with 48 acres of field infront of me. i love to watch them swoop down and get those squeakers aka mice ( not a fan) less that get in my house lol.

We have Eagles here. You do not see them a lot but when you do you know exactly what they are . . . . Amazing.

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!

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!

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*

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

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!

We had another hawk scare too
 

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!