I was standing outside on a cold, clear winter evening last year, waiting for Dash to potty one last time before bed. I was looking up at the night sky when I saw the owl. It freefell from an old hickory tree, extended its wings and swooped silently toward my unsuspecting puppy.
I ran toward my dog, yelling, and waving my arms to scare off the predator. The owl smoothly changed direction and flew up into another tree. I picked up Dash and headed for the safety of the house.
This owl could have easily carried away my tiny corgi. After that experience, I searched the bare trees for owls with a strong flashlight when we went out at night.
I had no idea there were such large owls in this dense suburban area. Since that night, I have witnessed several hawks snatch birds from our feeder, and racoons waddling across the yard at night. A nearby friend lost her cat to a fox. My veterinarian’s family nearly lost their dog to a coyote.
Please watch out for your small dogs and cats. Pets over ten pounds are generally safe from birds of prey, but may still be at risk if you have coyotes.
As we are taking over more and more undeveloped land, many owls, hawks, fox, coyotes are forced to look for food in the suburbs. Food is most scarce during the winter, so you may notice them more during this time. However, a staff member of the Wild Bird Center told me, “They’re there all year. You may not see them, but they see you.”
