Keeping My Yorkie Safe from Hawks

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Even if they are unable to pick up the animal, the hawks and owls can do a lot of damage. Our neighbor's 9 pound Yorkie was almost killed in his front yard by a hawk. He survived only because he had a good layer of fat that prevented the hawk's talons from shredding vital organs. Came very close to his diaphragm.

After Jack was attacked, my father finally understood my concerns in our yard. We have hawks and owls living in our trees, so we are unable to use our yard for running around.

Such a good point...the puncture wounds alone could kill them even if not picked up .

Geez, this scares me so much!

[kjc]

The talons are way sharper than the beak... that's why people wear heavy leather gloves when handling large birds. They also have one heck of a grip. We did wildlife rescue at the Vet Hospital I worked at and I cared for an owl and a Bald Eagle once till they recovered enough to be set free. The eagle had been shot and his wing had to be amputated so he went to the zoo to live out his days. Their wingspans are awesome.


Shiny, reflective things are unnatural and they will avoid them. Also any colors that do not look like their prey will help, or rhinestones/sequins that catch the sunlight and reflect it back to the bird will freak them out.


I read where in a yard a person made a grid 2ftX2ft on top of his fence using fishing line which catches the sunlight and prevents the large birds from gaining access to the yard as their wingspan is greater than 2ft. CDs hung from the branches of trees can help deter them too. I have garden art with metallic gazing balls placed around the yard.

[Batgirl38]

Buy one of those metal things that you put in the ground and they have the 20 feet leash u attach and they can have lots of room to play and the hawk want be able to take her away if you turn your head for a few minutes. I use them because I don't have a fence and my puppies love to play outside. I can just hook them up and watch them through the window if I don't wanna go out.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Batgirl38

Buy one of those metal things that you put in the ground and they have the 20 feet leash u attach and they can have lots of room to play and the hawk want be able to take her away if you turn your head for a few minutes. I use them because I don't have a fence and my puppies love to play outside. I can just hook them up and watch them through the window if I don't wanna go out.

FYI: Hawks/and other birds of prey dive from very high altitudes, and SLAM into small dogs, cats, rodents, etc, BREAKING THEIR BACKS TO IMMOBILIZE THEM. Then, with the immobilized prey clutched with a death grip in talons that range in length from 1 inch to 5 inches, depending on what bird you are dealing with, they then often begin to rip and tear the flesh from the prey, especially starting in the underbelly, where the prey is quickly evicerated. I would only pray you can get up and mobilized inside the house, witness such a horrific site happening to one of your babies, and have the emotional where with all to get to your tethered pup before the predator finishes its meal.

[SWHouston]

There have been several Threads here, where encounters with Hawks have resulted in the death of the Hawk, My two adults have done this as well.
Please don't think that my seemingly caviler attitude toward the freedom I give my guys as I may have implied in my Posts, as something that would cause you to treat the threat lightly.
These situations are very serious, and you should apply every effort to avoid unnecessarily exposing your animals to it.

Watch um like a Hawk npi

[yorkiemini]

When Cali killed the hawk that attacked her the fish and Wildlife and animal control could/would not believe it. They fined me $10,000 and threatened jail time as they are protected by the international migratory laws.

Eventually a couple eye witnesses and the vet, who had asked me to bring the bird when I frantically called them, still had the bird and talked with the people in charge. But, be assured they were very serious about it all.

Had I been there when the attack started, and would I have killed the bird - you bet.....but with what I know now I would have said nothing and buried it to China. You have no idea the hassle and red tape we had to go through, not to mention the attorney fees. Theses are federal laws!

So good luck every -- what'em like a hawk

[Batgirl38]

Reading your discription sent chills through my body...sorry that you even have to worry about such a thing...just keep an eye on your baby. That's probably the only thing u can do or make them a play area inside and only take them to a dog park for some free play.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

After a close...TOOOOO close!......encounter with an owl and one of my babies, I called the Houston Zoo and spoke with someone in the "Bird Exhibit".....He told me that these birds (hawks and owls) do see color and if I were to put something made of "hunter orange", that covered the dogs body almost completely, that would certainly lessen the chances of my Yorkie, who to a predator bird, looks a lot like a rabbit or squirrel from 400 feet in the air, being mistaken for a squirrel or rabbit......So, I had "Hunter orange" vests with sleeves that covered all 4 legs, back and sides and even high up on the neck made for each of my kiddos. Of course, I never let mine out unattended and under cinstant supervision, but I almost lost one of them to an owl that swooped down in the early evening, while my baby was on a 6 foot leash.....I was standing very still so the dog would do her business, and the owl did not realize I was standing right there, alive and a danger to the owl! For summer, the vests were made out of a mesh material that was that neon orange....."hunter orange".....so the babies would be cooler.

That's news you can use. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, leashes are best way to give you a fighting chance -- and make sure you have a good grip on it. There was a horrible story on YT a few years ago where I coyote grabbed and escaped with a leashed Yorkie who was being walked by a burly football player.

[Minniesmthr]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

When Cali killed the hawk that attacked her the fish and Wildlife and animal control could/would not believe it. They fined me $10,000 and threatened jail time as they are protected by the international migratory laws.

Eventually a couple eye witnesses and the vet, who had asked me to bring the bird when I frantically called them, still had the bird and talked with the people in charge. But, be assured they were very serious about it all.

Had I been there when the attack started, and would I have killed the bird - you bet.....but with what I know now I would have said nothing and buried it to China. You have no idea the hassle and red tape we had to go through, not to mention the attorney fees. Theses are federal laws!

So good luck every -- what'em like a hawk

Did they rescind the $10,000 fine or did you have to pay it? I understand the Federal Laws are there to protect birds, but this seems utterly ridiculous given the circumstances.

Cathie

[Minniesmthr]

This topic really freaks me out. Our little Gracie loves going outdoors and begs to go out constantly. She weighs 5 pounds, is usually in a dress (Sorry, I got hooked on doggie apparel) but the dresses are not hot pink or orange.

I need to reread this topic to see where people are getting the fabric.

We have a doggie door, but I am afraid to let her use it. We have had 6 yorkies previously and never had any problems, though I had not read of these happenings. Recently though, there was a Red-tailed Hawk flying right over my neighbor's roof. This bird is plenty big enough to grab a yorkie.

Cathie

[Minniesmthr]

In the terrific heat of last summer, we drove up in front of our house and were surprised to see a Cooper's Hawk sitting in a water dish full of water on our front sidewalk This happened on two different occasions.

I don't think this bird is large enough to take a dog, but I could be wrong. It comes around here and takes Mourning Doves sometimes, which makes me really mad. It is also federally protected or it would be history...

Cathie

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Minniesmthr

This topic really freaks me out. Our little Gracie loves going outdoors and begs to go out constantly. She weighs 5 pounds, is usually in a dress (Sorry, I got hooked on doggie apparel) but the dresses are not hot pink or orange.

I need to reread this topic to see where people are getting the fabric.

We have a doggie door, but I am afraid to let her use it. We have had 6 yorkies previously and never had any problems, though I had not read of these happenings. Recently though, there was a Red-tailed Hawk flying right over my neighbor's roof. This bird is plenty big enough to grab a yorkie.

Cathie

I think anything that makes a dog not look like prey would work. I walked my girl in a dress and a Pit Bull that had chased us once before was out without a leash and just sat there with a very confused look on it's face, cocked his head a few times, but no prey response at all!

[yorkiemini]

Originally Posted by Minniesmthr

Did they rescind the $10,000 fine or did you have to pay it? I understand the Federal Laws are there to protect birds, but this seems utterly ridiculous given the circumstances.

Cathie

No I did not have to pay the fine in the end but had to get an atty and go to court because I had been charged.

[duckduckgoose]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

FYI: Hawks/and other birds of prey dive from very high altitudes, and SLAM into small dogs, cats, rodents, etc, BREAKING THEIR BACKS TO IMMOBILIZE THEM. Then, with the immobilized prey clutched with a death grip in talons that range in length from 1 inch to 5 inches, depending on what bird you are dealing with, they then often begin to rip and tear the flesh from the prey, especially starting in the underbelly, where the prey is quickly evicerated. I would only pray you can get up and mobilized inside the house, witness such a horrific site happening to one of your babies, and have the emotional where with all to get to your tethered pup before the predator finishes its meal.

That was way more dramatic than necessary.

[kjc]

Thoughts on Kevlar fabrics: They may not prevent your pet from being picked up and carried off, or dropped from a height. Thought about protection from dog bites too but I doubt it prevents crushing type injuries. Still feel it can make a difference.