Posted on 07/17/2011 3:19:05 PM PDT by JoeProBono
NEW YORK, - A New York woman says she had nearly given up hope her pet cat, Eddie, was still alive after the feline was carried off by a red-tailed hawk.
But Eddie, who weighs in at a hefty 15 pounds, was found stunned and disheveled but still kicking in the back yard of an apartment building after the estimated 4-pound bird apparently couldn't hang on and dropped it.
Eddie plummeted an estimated five stories but was no worse for wear, the New York Daily News said Saturday. "He checked out fine, other than some minor cuts, scrapes and bruises," said Eddie's owner, who did not want to be identified. "The vet says he's an amazing cat."
The woman admitted she wasn't so fine after hearing a ruckus outside her Upper West Side apartment and finding "fur, broken nails and feathers" when she went out to investigate.
"I walked for hours all over the neighborhood and up Riverside Drive, sobbing, looking for his body," she said. "I went to all the hawks' nests. I put up signs with Eddie's photo."
Animal experts said hawks generally don't consider household pets to be on their menu; however, they did recall a 2003 incident in Bryant Park when a hawk swooped down on an unsuspecting Chihuahua.
Raptors are one of the world’s most perfect animals.
THAT is a BAE (Big-Assed Eagle).
It’s still hard to believe. One of my little cats (outdoor)
little ladies just scared off a coyote, or a dog that
looks a lot like a coyote.
There had been a few coyotes roaming my neighborhood
recently. One AM, I look out of my front window, and
see a coyote looking thing coming toward my front porch.
Next thing I know, one of my outdoor cats (I call her Lucky)
bolts out of the bushes going straight at the coyote thingy
the coyote takes off running away, and the cat is
chasing it up about one house worth up the street.
Like I said, it’s hard believe it, but I did see it.
Great cat name—Velcro. I have a Velcro cat, too. She’s 15 lbs. and a little prima donna. Vicious on the mice, however. She got her name when she was a baby and “stuck” to my sweater and “peeling” her off sounded like velcro.
On my last trip to Alaska I was told that eagles use the same nest for years...Some can end up weighing over a ton. They just repair them every year...
I thought I had heard/read something about eagles in NY city somewhere in the past so I googled up these sites. So maybe an eagle in NYC is not outside of the realm of possibility though certainly not likely. http://gothamist.com/2010/02/05/bald_eagle_1.php http://www.newyorktails.com/birdmeet.htm
There is a utube about natives (either russian or afganies) don’t remember which that have trained golden eagles to kill wolves. It is an amazing film. 2 can take down a running wolf.....
I had a huge black cat named Velcro, too. :)
My family has a tradition of using sewing words to name our animals. Don’t ask.
That would be interesting, if eagles began habitating in NYC. If so, cats and dogs, and the odd unattended infant, will start going missing. Eagles are badass.
Smart bird.
A cat named Velcro, I love it....LOL may he rest in peace..
My daughter snapped a picture of a Bald Eagle here in Michigan at the corner of her road. Just north of Rochester.
Gal, I love ya, but I have to jump in here. I love raptors, they are the most majestic and impressive of our flying friends.
I mean think about it, our national symbol is a predatory bird, and a beautiful animal. I see birds, but I’ll be driving along and my woman will ask me why I am leaning forward and staring up. Look it’s a red-tail, see, way up there, that ain’t no buzzard.
Only birds I really care about. They are awesome, they live on such a narrow margin at the top of the food chain.
I’m begging you, repent ;)
Keep your cats indoors!
I can’t imagine the world without them. They add to its beauty and are vitally important to nature. I’m glad they exist.
I have a passion for owls.
A while back a redtail nailed a chipmunk right outside my window. The bird plucked the little guy’s innards and flew up to the top of the swing set to enjoy his snack.
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