Hawk diving

[SWHouston]

My guys aren't the only ones here on the Forum, who have killed a hawk. I'm fortunate that I have a very thick canopy over the back of the property. Since Ichabod (male puppy) arrived, I have been on heightened alert, but that is diminishing since Ickey is over five pounds now. I can see the same level of aggression toward "intruders", as My Male Sneakers had at Ickey's age, though it was My Female Becca who jumped and caught the Hawk first.

I often think of how many really little ones we have here on the Forum, and how much I would worry about their safety. Given the natural "warrior" instinct that I believe all Yorkies have, I'm really glad that my guys are bigger.

[SWHouston]

HAWK UPDATE !

Usually once or twice a day, I'll call the whole Pack out to the back yard, and we'll all sit around and just be together. I can tell, they really like things like that, "together" being the most important feature.

Anyway, as I was sitting there, and my guys were just laying out on the grass sunning themselves, I saw a (small) Hawk at a distance, and as it flew around in nice large circles, it eventually was overhead, at about 100 ft or so.

I was sitting in/under the Breezeway, leaning forward and watching it (full time) from that "hidden" position, just waiting to see if it would swoop. Ichabod was the most available target, as he lay out in the middle of the yard. I glanced quickly, seeing both Sneakers and Becca looking up, apparently at the Hawk, but, they didn't react any. Ichabod (a puppy) just lay there, and didn't notice anything.

Though I trust my guys to have defended themselves, I admit my apprehension increased, as I saw the Hawk turn and fly down closer. I was ready to jump up, and interfere with what I thought was going to be an attack on the Puppy. That didn't happen.

The Hawk flew/glided through the canopy slowly, apparently checking out the animals laying there, continued and flew away. I don't think it saw me, but made an evaluation of the risk of an attack, and decided against it. We stayed outside for another half hour, and it didn't return.

That was a very astute decision on the Hawk's part, since the last one that tried to attack my Pack, got thoroughly distributed around the yard in pieces.

I know that many here, would have quickly gathered their little ones up, and rushed them into the house. However, in my case, I don't have "little" ones, save for Ichabod (over 5 lbs now) and who is growing like a weed.

Given the flexibility I permit with them, in accessing the outside whenever they want, it's important to me, that I know they can defend themselves when I'm not around for that. This incident supported that confidence.

[MandiesMom]

I admire your confidence in your guys. And, your ability to sit back and watch. You are so right, I would've jumped up and gotten right on top of Mandie if I had seen that. I am just that much of a scardy cat lol

As a matter of fact, I did just that yesterday as a HUGE owl came right across her head down from the trees. I don't think he was going at her because she was in the corner area of the fence..but he was ginormous and scared the crap out of me

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

I admire your confidence in your guys. And, your ability to sit back and watch.

Well, it's possible that I understated my apprehension about that.

I was rather concerned, but, the Hawk was small, and it's something that I really need to know, and very much want my guys to be able to handle. I assure you, I was ready to intervene !

Given that I live in a large metropolitan area, there doesn't seem to be that many large areal predators about, and actually, seeing a Hawk only occurs every couple months. I've never seen anything large like the Owl you spoke of.

I sincerely think that what success my guys have, is because they regularly get exposed to situations were they have to encounter pray (from their point of view) are just used to being more alert and aggressive with encounters with other animals. I've been hunting them for several years now, and back then, they weren't as successful as they are today.

Thinking back on the incident, and how they just cooled it, I believe they were wanting that Hawk down on their level. My adult Female Becca goes for Birds a LOT more than She does the Squirrels or when our resident Possum (Sweetie) accidentally forgets what time of day it is.

I'm not suggesting that anyone be less careful, and I think being a "Scardy Cat" is probably a good idea.