Just had the scare of my life!!!
 

I just took the babies to the park for a walk. On the way home I happened to see a HUGE BIRD dragging the carcus of a dead RACCOON out of the road. It was actually picking it up and flying with it in it's claws. It laid the carcus on the side of the road. It wasn't scared of the cars or anything!!!! Cars kept flying past and it didn't bat an eye. It was so bold I couldn't believe it.

I was so stunned by it I pulled over into the parking lot. The bird was as long as Daisy (she's 12 inches) and bigger than a chicken. It was more like the size of a small turkey. The wingspan looked like is was easily 3 feet. I pulled up right next to the sign post where it was sitting and I was only about 3 feet away from it. Darn, I wish I had remembered my phone so I could have gotten a pic. You would not believe the wingspan on this bird. It looked straight at me and it scared me so much I rolled my window up FAST. It had a red hooked beak.

WAS THIS A HAWK??? I was wondering if I need to report it to someone???

this was only a couple of blocks from where I live. I ran home to drop off the dogs and get my camera and when I got back it was gone. The carcus was still there. I sat for awhile looking for it but it was gone.

I am so scared. I have no doubt that it COULD actually pick up my 12 pound yorkies and fly off with them since I saw it pick up that carcus that looked as big as Daisy. I never thought it was possible for a bird to do this but now I see that it really is. I am going to watch them LIKE A HAWK (no pun intended) every time I let them out. I have seen other threads that said the bird would not be afraid if you chased it. Believe me, this one wouldn't. It wasn't even afraid of CARS!!!

Please be extra cautious and watch your babies when they are outside. I know I am going to.

I have NEVER seen anything like this scary bird. It was a nightmare!

Sounds like you saw a vulture. Yeah they are scary looking but they go after dead animals. When I was living in Missouri for a time I saw them several times.

Probably. They can pick up yorkies. So can owls.

You can google images of hawks and compare them to what you saw.

OMG!! I didn't know about owls!!! I hear them around here all the time. I thougth these types of birds of prey only hung around in the country. I guess I have a lot to learn. I'm going to look up a vulture and see if that's what it was.

Oh, yes, I forgot about turkey vultures. Here's a pic of one:

http://www.jonmoldphotography.co.uk/...ey-vulture.jpg

Someone I'm acquainted with told me they lost two small dogs to an owl years ago.

Yup those are the vultures we saw while living in Missouri. Here is info about them, note that they prefer dead animals:

"Feeds primarily on a wide variety of carrion, from small mammals to large grazers, preferring those recently dead, but may also feed on plant matter, shoreline vegetation, pumpkin and other crops, live insects and other invertebrates. They prefer the meat of herbivorous animals to that of dogs and other carnivores. Turkey Vultures can often be seen along roadsides cleaning up roadkill, or near rivers or the ocean, feasting on washed-up fish, another of their favorite foods."

It didn't look like a hawk or a vulture. It had solid black feathers and head that were shiny. It didn't have a long neck. It had a shorter hooked red beak.

DARN, I wish I had gotten some pics. I was so close to it. I might go out driving to see if I can spot it again. I wish I could find a pic that looked like this bird. It really looked like something you would see caged in the zoo. Nothing like a bird you would ever see around here.

Yup, and it's not only large birds you have to be aware of even in the city, but animals like foxes as well. Had a neighbor who's small dog was carried off by one. Since Eury is so little I never let her go outside by herself. The world is just too big and too scary for my little girl!

Thanks for this info. It fits the description to a T. Glad to know that it doesn't go after live animals, and doesn't particularly like dogs. I am thinking this is what I saw only different coloring from the pics I looked at.

did it look like thisAttachment 133043 If so it is a Turkey vulture or turkey hawk.
and they LOVE road kill but can take small animals too.

oops didn't see your post ;)

That is a little closer to what I saw but the feathers under the wing and everywhere were solid shiny black and the lower wing feathers were not long like that. The wing had a contour shape to it and the beak was shorter and more hooked and was solid red color.

I might have to go to the bird sanctuary this weekend and inquire.

Oh my gosh how scary!! I would have died.

Here's a pic of an American Black Vulture:

http://www.richwooders.com/appalachi...ck-vulture.jpg

The size of the body looked similar but the head was different, it was solid black. The beak was much larger and hooked.

I just called the bird sanctuary and she thinks it was a turkey vulture. She said it won't harm a live animal, it only wants road kill.

I'm not 100% sure that is what I saw but I think I will try to rest my mind that is what it was so I don't go crazy with worry about letting the babies outside.

The lady at the sanctuary told me the only thing we have to worry about in this area is the owls at night. I am still going to be vigilant about these birds though.

That would have been a very scary thing to see. I have heard these birds of prey have taken yorkies and smaller animals. I would still be worried even if they only took dead animals. I would be worried one of mine would be lounging around on the deck and the bird would think it was dead and grab it. Too scary to even think about but thanks for the warning.

Here is a severe vulture. It has a red beak. Could this be it?

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_clos...695715&Lang=en

Yikes!!!

That looks really close to what I saw. I would say that is probably what it was.

I would have closed the window too if THAT was looking at me!!!!!!:eek:

I grew up in MO, and I remember seeing vultures several times while we were camping there in the Ozarks, and they ARE scary looking birds! Hopefully he was travelling somewhere else far, FAR away from you and your babies!

That looks so scary!!!

Omg it does look scary!

You have to watch out for a lot of things. I once saw what I think was an eagle here in NY, and a group of friends saw a parrot in the Bronx, granted parrots don't eat animals, but you never know. And careful of coyotes, they're popping up all over.