For those with Hawk problems...

[Daisy23]

I called a local place here to me and it's called Raptor Trust(http://www.theraptortrust.org/home) and spoke with a guy (a Dr.) there and asked him about Daisy being harmed in any way. He said that there have been so very little cases of a hawk bothering a dog of any size. He said the Redtails (the largest ones wont even bother a small dog). He did say if you see one and you want to shoo it away...just make noise, like pots & pans. I know there have been many posts on here about hawks and I for one have a few as well as turkey volchers so I was determined to speak with someone who knows these animals well. I feel more comfortable about letting her out but I will still keep an eye out. I just wanted to share this information with you.

[RoxyJosMom]

Thank you for sharing that. I feel better now, too. Did he happen to mention anything about owls? I came within about 15 or 20 feet of the biggest owl I had ever seen one night. He was sitting on the ground with his prey in his talons. Just as I drove by, he took flight and whatever he was holding was alot bigger than Roxy is now. Since they are night hunters and make no noise when they fly, there is no warning. I have a friend who swears it was an owl that got her Chi while it was waiting on the steps to come inside one nite. Anyone know the answer?

[JeanieK]

Owls are also a danger. My sister's neighbor had a yorkie picked up by an owl. It was dropped and they found the two holes from the talons going all the way through the dog.

[sgab80]

Dont believe it!!!!-I have posted here before about an owl taking off with my full grown cat (owls arent supposed to do that either). We also have a very large hawk that sits in a tree at the edge of my backyard-my next door neighbor said it was sitting on his porch rail the other day! I dont let LillyBelle out for one second without me right by her-The hawk is just waiting for the right moment-just like the owl was.-Do a search about hawks/owls taking small domestic animals-one just recently-where the young boy had to fight the hawk off his little dog while walking him.

[Lexi Rae]

omg!!! please be careful and watch your babies without a blink

[my2boyz]

The way I see it is...anything that drops from the sky and carries off squirrels, cats, ducks, rabbits, other birds, rats, mice, snakes or whatever or anything that preys on other animals and eats fresh meat for it's meals is a danger to my little guys and I will continue to watch them as close as I do now. Oh, any you might want to include crows in that group...I've seen them attack and carry off baby bunnies and squirrels. No, they may not be able to carry off a small Yorkie but I have seen them pin down and viciously attack another animal so they can do damage.

[Yorkiesforever]

I agree I watch my little ones like a hawk .I don't trust anything.

[chloeandj]

Don't trust this person's advice. I've had a redtail hawk sit on my fence and screach at me as I was trying to gather my furballs up and into the house.

[RoxyJosMom]

I always lived by the rule that if an animal is hungry enough, it will go after anything for food even tho it's not it's preferred source. So, I suppose it all depends on how much of a food source there is for that particular hunter. But, no matter what, we should guard our little ones very closely and never leave them unprotected.

[red98vett]

I know someone who's tiny little yorkie was carried off 20 feet from her the danger is there and if you have a Hawk problem please ALWAYS be on the lookout - sometimes it isn't the hawk actually flying off with their prey - it's the talons that kill dogs and other small creatures.

[Nancy1999]

Thanks for the information, and I know many of us are paranoid over this, but I think it depends where you live. We live by a lake in Arizona, and I can often see hawks flying above. I took the following from Dog Owner's Guide: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/wildlife.html
"Great horned owls and large hawks can pose a danger to small dogs and young puppies. Although stories of predation on dogs are rare, some attacks have been recorded."
So both your expert and this link agree attacks are rare, I still don't feel I should leave my dog out alone. In another part of town, I wouldn't be as worried. After all, hawks eat rodents to survive.
Nancy

[Daisy23]

I live in NJ (Middlesex County). To be honest I dont think I've personally seen the hawk, but my dad has and my fiance has. Dont get me wrong I will still watch her when she's go out, but I am alittle more comfortable knowing that I dont need to be right on top of her as she's doing her "business" we would let her out in the back yard and follow her every step literally, but now I feel that I can wait on the porch while she does her business and still of course be out there when shes outside.

I did see on the news where the little boy attacked the hawk because it was trying to get his dog.

I just wanted to post what the local bird place here told me.

[FlDebra]

I think I will still keep a close watch on my two. I have had hawks circle our yard and the only thing in it are my dogs so that must be what they are eyeing. I read one article that said pet owners have little to fear from hawks but this is what it said, "Of the prey items I've mentioned, jackrabbits are the heaviest. They weigh no more than 10 pounds, less than your pet. Since a small dog could look about the same size as a hawk's usual prey, however, it's possible that a hungry raptor might at least attempt to capture the dog, injuring it in the process. " Mine are both considerably LESS than 10 pounds, though!

That same article also said, "Be more cautious, though, about leaving your dog outdoors at night. Great Horned Owls are powerful hunters that eat a wide variety of prey, including raccoons, porcupines, and house cats - all of which can weigh as much as your pet. "

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Daisy23

I called a local place here to me and it's called Raptor Trust(http://www.theraptortrust.org/home) and spoke with a guy (a Dr.) there and asked him about Daisy being harmed in any way. He said that there have been so very little cases of a hawk bothering a dog of any size. He said the Redtails (the largest ones wont even bother a small dog). He did say if you see one and you want to shoo it away...just make noise, like pots & pans. I know there have been many posts on here about hawks and I for one have a few as well as turkey volchers so I was determined to speak with someone who knows these animals well. I feel more comfortable about letting her out but I will still keep an eye out. I just wanted to share this information with you.

If an hawk can grab onto a rabbit and take off with it then (IMO) could pick up ANY small animal! I wouldn't want to take that chance.

[chloeandj]

Did you guys see the news report a few weeks back on CNN, where the hawk picked up a daschund puppy while a young boy was walking him and the boy fought the hawk off?