I’m a night owl and love sitting outside late at night with my dogs. Most of the time, it’s quiet and peaceful, but there are times when you hear life and death struggles going on between wild animals and outside pets. One night two owls working together attacked a neighbor’s cat. I could hear the cat yowling, but couldn’t locate her in the dark. There wasn’t anything I could do, except cry for the poor cat and pray she would be able to escape. Small pets are at risk to attacks from birds of prey, and there are a few things you can do to help protect them.
To wild animals and raptors, our pets, especially small ones are prey just like a rabbit or squirrel. I have small and large dogs and would be taking a dangerous path to think the smaller ones are too big for raptors to carry away. Hawks will attack any size animal if they think they can carry it away. Cats could easily be whisked away by one of the birds of prey. In my area, we have Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Red-tail Hawks, Great Horned Owls, Barn Owls, as well as other species of raptors. And any one of these birds have been known to attack small pets.
It’s important for pet owners of small dogs and cats to be aware of birds of prey. We don’t always think about looking up for predators and it could be a fatal mistake for a pet. Raptors have been known to swoop down and try to steal a pet right from the arms of their owner and have been successful in some attacks. Small pets have been snatched from their back yards and once a bird of prey has a grip on your pet, there’s little you can do to stop the bird and save your pet. No matter where you live in the country, there’s always going to be wild animals or birds of prey, but there are precautions you can take to prevent attacks from happening.
Birds of prey have excellent eyesight, in fact their sight is eight times clearer and sharper than ours. They have to be able to locate prey on the ground from a great distance and can reach some pretty impressive diving speeds. Bald eagles, for example, have been clocked at diving speeds up to 100 mph.
Supervise Outside Pets
You should be aware of what kind of wildlife you have in your area, on the ground and in the air, so you can build a safe enclosure for your pet and if you don’t have a safe area, supervise your pets when they’re outside. Outside cats are more at risk and are more likely to be attacked by a bird of prey because they are closer in size to the bird’s normal prey. Chihuahuas, kittens, puppies, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and toy dog breeds should be kept in a safe area that has protection from predators in the skies. Even a dog 20 pounds or more can be attacked, if a raptor needs to feed young ones waiting somewhere in a nest. If you have a small to medium sized dog and you leave him outside during the day, cover a fenced in area with a tarp, mesh netting or wire fence. You can buy large dog runs with tops for dogs or outside cats.
Survey Your Property
Birds of prey like high perches were they can sit and look for food. They also like to build nests high up in trees. If a suitable tree isn’t found, they will build their nest on a ledge on the side of a cliff. Water attracts wildlife and raptors hunt where there’s water. Ponds, streams, birdbaths, water fountains and swimming pools will attract both predator and prey.
Bird Feeders, Vegetable Gardens, and Flower Gardens
Raptors follow prey and attack songbirds feeding at backyard bird feeders. Gardens attract rabbits, snakes, and other small prey which can also leave your pets at risk to birds of prey. The best way to avoid problems is to make sure your garden area is fenced off to discourage small visitors and keep them out of your garden. Place bird feeders away from areas where your pets play when outside. If you are feeding birds and they stop coming, it’s likely there’s a raptor watching your feeder. To give songbirds some protection from birds of prey, cover the area where the bird feeder is with a mesh netting or place a feeder where there’s plenty of shrubbery or trees smaller birds can seek refuge in if they’re attacked. You can also stop feeding them for awhile. If there are no birds coming to your feeder, the raptor will go somewhere else to hunt.
Birds of prey are protected by federal and state law and it’s illegal to harm them or their nesting sites in any way. You can even be fined for picking up feathers. Raptors aren’t evil birds preying on our pets. They are only searching for a meal to survive. It’s our responsibility to do what we can to protect a pet when he’s outside. One of the best ways to safeguard your pet is to be aware of a silent and swift predator that could be flying overhead.
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