We now seem to have a bald eagle in the neighborhood. Becca doesn't spend much time outside without me, but I wonder. Could a bald eagle snatch up a 25 pound corgi?

Views: 1229

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I heard of one carrying off a dachsund. I don't think it could carry a corgi. But it could injure one if it hit it.
From Snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/critters/mishaps/dognap.asp

We occasionally have one by us. I wouldn't worry too much. Most of them primarily eat fish. But I wouldn't leave my dogs unattended in a yard anyway. We have skunks, raccoons, foxes, and I even saw a porcupine right by our deck. All of which I'd worry about more than the eagle.

Nice articles, good read and informative.

I wouldn't worry about her being carried off.   We have a red tailed hawk in our neighborhood, I know he can't make off with the dogs but he could do damage if he hit them so they are rarely outside without me.

I enjoyed watching a funny fake attack of an eagle on a small dog in a movie with Sandra Bullock, but I think an adult corgi would be pretty safe. I am much more concerned about on the ground predators which are much more plentiful and unpredictable. I have heard stories of owls getting small pets, but again, I think a corgi is just big enough to be safe. Then again, I never let mine off leash because she is too distracted by things in the wild and I am afraid she might get lost chasing a rabbit or something. I am not sure if an off leash dog would seem more of an easy target to birds of prey.

An eagle can lift about three or four pounds -- a nice fish catch, but certainly not a 25-pound corgi.

A coyote, on the other hand... If you live in the country or along an interface between town and country, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your dog all the time it's in your yard. A coyote can ghost right over a six-foot wall, and our local raccoons (cute but nasty) have no trouble getting into the neighbors' yards. Coyotes and raccoons commonly are urban dwellers; I live in the middle of the city, and we see them here all the time.

We live by a wildlife sanctuary with lots of bald eagles, and they love to roost in our trees.  They don't bother the neighborhood dogs and just focus on fishing.  They cannot carry a lot of weight to the point that they'll drop a fish if it's too heavy.  We've found fish in the strangest places (like the roof of the house).  One of their favorite foods are coots, which is comparable to ducks if that gives you a good reference point as to how much they carry. ^_^

We have lost barn cats to eagles (watched them get carried off!) but a corgi is much heavier. That said, I have seen eagles and hawks swoop around for another look at Ein. Always wondered what they were thinking.

I work at a wildlife rehabilitation and nature center.  We have 3 permanently injured bald eagles.  Male bald eagles weigh about 7 pounds, while females weigh about 12-15 pounds.  So even if they attacked a 25 pound corgi (which is highly unlikely as they prefer fish and smaller mammals) they wouldn't be able to carry it off.  I wouldn't worry about it.  As others have mentioned, you have more to fear from mammals than birds.

True that. But it does remind me of something kind of funny that happened here in the 'hood. I'm out in front puttering with the yard when a lady on the far side of youth goes striding by with a tiny little poodley-maltesey thing on the end of a leash. She and the wee dog trot along in oblivious joy, reveling in a beautiful day.

Above them is a red-tailed hawk. Poodley thing has attracted its attention, and it's circling over them and very clearly following them. They have no clue. When they go around the corner, hawk turns west, up the same street. You could see the raptor follow those two right up to about where they would have gone in their house.

Would it have stooped on the dogoid if the woman had let go of the leash? I don't know. Maybe the red-tail simply thought it bizarre and hilarious to see a ball of fur walking along at the end of a strip of leather beside a female great ape. Whatever...it was an interesting performance to watch.

Thanks. I was skeptical myself, but the neighbors insisted it was possible. I have yet to see it myself.

Becca is in her fence when outside alone, then only for short periods and during the day. We have had fox in the neighborhood, but I don't see much else. Last year a bobcat passed through. It would be extremely rare for them to be in an active neighborhood during the day.

RSS

Rescue Store

Stay Connected

 

FDA Recall

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Recall

We support...

Badge

Loading…

© 2024   Created by Sam Tsang.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report a boo boo  |  Terms of Service