Posted on 03/11/2010 2:43:15 AM PST by The Magical Mischief Tour
(Fox News) - Most pet owners take steps to protect their animals. In Santa Rosa, California, Odessa Gunn worried a car or coyote might one day claim the lives of her dogs, which is why she and her husband, renowned American cyclist Levi Leipheimer, fenced in their property.
But Fox News reported Wednesday that they're mourning the loss of their beloved Chihuahua, Trooper, and nursing their other dog, Bandit, back to health. The attacker came from an unlikely place -- the sky.
Gunn had just let her dogs out into the backyard and was preparing to join them. She recalls, "in the time it took me to put my boots on, I heard what sounded like a really horrendous cat screeching noise. I thought it was a mountain lion or a bobcat or something."
In fact, it was a pair of Great Horned Owls, birds that typically eat rats and squirrels. On this recent night, the birds set their sites on larger prey. From out of the darkness, the two owls swooped down and attacked Trooper and Bandit, just feet away from where Gunn stood.
After a violent struggle, Bandit escaped, bloody and limping, but Trooper was carried off and hasn't been seen since. No fur. No blood. Nothing.
While there are really no good statistics on the frequency of such attacks, wildlife experts say they're rare but almost always lethal. In many ways, owls are the perfect predators; they approach without warning, and their razor-sharp talons can snatch a pooch or cat two to three times their own body weight.
We have a large owl in my area - at least a 6ft wingspan ....thank goodness, Nemo, grew up to 45 lbs.
I was worried when he was a pup knowing how owls and Red Shoulder Hawks hunt. We also have a mated pair of those hawks in my area...they hang out on my property a lot.
Rabbit, rat, and snake population is way down from years past.
I remember back in the 50s, before animal rights activists had gained any type of power, how they mounted a huge campaign against killing Red Tail hawks because, they claimed, the hawks didn't really kill chickens. There was simply "no such thing as a chicken hawk". While techinically there were correct on the name they were not correct on what a hawk would or wouldn't kill. Chickens were regularly killed off by hawks. I was always amazed they the non chicken owners who actually believed that hype.
Hawks, owls, eagles, ospreys will all kill and eat whatever they are strong enough to fly off with.
My friend suspects it's the eagle since she and her husband saw it sitting on one of the pilings on their dock one day.......
That would have been cool to witness......
Your standard 25 lb Maine Coon Cat would take a really big owl.
“In fact, it was a pair of Great Horned Owls, birds that typically eat rats and squirrels.”
The owl just thought the little rat dog was a rat or maybe a DemocRat!
I've always found it neat that Eagles and Ospreys will catch a fish, then turn it head first into the relative wind as they fly away, reducing the drag of what they are carrying.
Naw. Raptor food is a better idea.
Baby owls are cute...they gotta eat too. :-)
A friend of mine who lived in a rural subdivision north of Naples, Florida saw much the same thing some years ago. Early one morning he was watering his yard before going to work and happened to look down the street as a bald eagle swooped and snatched up a toy poodle from a neighbor’s front yard. A moment later, the owner, a white haired matron, came out, clapping her hands and calling “Pierre . . . Pierre.” My friend broke the news and consoled the owner, a visitor to the neighborhood.
After a steady diet of mice and squirrels I’d be jonesin’ for some Mexican food too.
Sounds like a real cutie. Just keep an eye out and keep it on a lead. A big stick or broom wouldn’t hurt either. These magnificent birds are great hunters and very fast. The owls will come out of nowhere! A 5 pound dog is a fast meal for these predators. My yard cat nearly learned the hard way!
high-speed .22 hits them,,,
Years ago a friend was having “varmint” problems with them
eating His food,,,
A few weekends work with my 22.250 was the cure,,,
Most of the rest wouldn't come near the place,,,
Country folks can survive...
Owls will be owls.
You couldn’t help yourself, huh?
Looks like another Man is Bad film.
BTW, say hi to your hubby for me. I work with several bubbleheads - good guys all.
Aren’t there any which guarantee tp place the Pet in a new home? I know we have them in NJ.
A Bald Eagle was eyeing up my Jack Russell. doing circles around him. I think the eagle decided he was too fat to carry off.
I was at a gas station last week. It’s a suburban setting w/ pine trees covered w/ a woody evergreen vine.
While I was pumping I heard 2 Great Horned Owls hooting in the tangle of vines and pine trees. This is 2 in the afternoon.
Before I was able to park the car and try to eyeball the owls a flock (murder) of crows ran them off.
I think the owls are mating now.
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