What do hawks eat....?

Question

Suddenly I am finding the remains of small animals on my very urban property in Washington DC. There has been the remains of birds and what looked like mice on my 3rd story deck. I just came back from vacation and I found on the lawn the bones and part of a leg of what looks like a squirrel. Three years ago a very large hawk started visiting my 80 ft oak tree. In april I saw what looked like a pair at the top of the tree. They were rather large. Could they have made a home in the oak and are hunting squirrels and birds? What else do they hunt? Do they move on or are they my newest neighbors? Should I be concerned about things like my neighbors dogs and cats?

Thanks to all who answered. I was just truly curious. I cannot tell much about the hawks except from the distance it appeared to be brown with another color in it. They were rather large. We are having an influx of wildlife around here with not only deer, but foxes and coyotes. Now hawks. Let's see what comes next. I am expecting to see a black bear romping across my yard any day now. As long as I view from that 3rd story deck..I am cool :)

Answer 1

i fed a hawk a dead mouse before while petsitting for a wildlife center manager.

Answer 2

All the answers above (other than the shooting, of course!), offer some pretty sound information. And I know you only asked what they eat -- but let's not be so quick to blame, shall we. Hawks are not the only things that eat birds and maybe one (or more) of those cats in your neighborhood is actually getting the munchies? Could they be hanging out on or over your deck and chowing down? My cats used to eat rabbits as big as squirrels and leave me . . . well, enough said on that. Anyway, if it is the hawk, generally, they do move on. If they are nesting, they will move once the chicks fledge; otherwise sooner.

Answer 3

What they eat depends on the type of hawk/eagle/falcon and its hunting style... Falcons generally eat other birds they catch on the wing, Hawks like harrier hawks fly over open areas about 10-20 feet from the ground and catch and kill small/medium ground animals like snakes, mice, ground squirrels, rabbits etc...depending on thier size they might kill larger animals as well. Other Hawks like to perch up high and watch for an opportunity to strike small/medium/large animals on the ground and can certainly prey upon domestic cats and small breed dogs. Still other hawks specialize in catching animals out of trees or like the Osprey catch fish out of the water. Almost all will scavenge from carrion. I definitely think that you have acquired a resident pair of hawks or eagles that are taking advantage of your large tree as a look out spot to ambush prey from. As long as you inform your neighbours about the possible risks and advise them that large hawks can and will feed on thier smaller pets there shouldnt be a problem because if they value thier lives they will keep them inside the house!! I am curious to try and determine what kind of birds you have would you please describe what they look like..then maybe I can give you more info about the specific hunting habits and size of thier prey...... You can e-mail me the info if you want at [e-mail] or just post it here that is if you feel like it...

Answer 4

hawks prey on animals smaller than themselves. They have been known to eat birds, mice, rats, etc. Possibly the squirrel. They swoop down from the tops of the trees to their prey, so after they have eaten them its very likely they will leave it nearby.
The dogs and cats will probably be okay. However, one of my dogs in the passed was attacked by a hawk and had her eye taken out, so it might be wise to advise your neighbors of the possibility of a hawk in your area.

Answer 5

Hawks WILL eat small dogs and cats. I know this for a fact, watching one try to swoop down to snatch my kitten up a few days ago.
The kitten is now indoors only, so I don't have to worry about the hawk anymore.

Answer 6

They're opportunist hunters. If it's big enough to overpower, they'll hunt it. They probably even raid birds nests to get the chicks. Rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, voles, lemmings (up north), ptarmigans, chipmunks, birds of every form and even small pets in back yards are known to be victims of their hunts. In BC (Canada), hawks have been witnessed being bold enough to swipe people's pet birds right off their shoulders!

Answer 7

HAWKS ARE CARNIVORES AND EAT WHATEVER THEY CAN KILL. JUST WHAT COMES NATURALLY. A SMALL DOG OR CAT MAY BE ON THE LIST, BUT DOUBTFUL. I WOULDN'T BE BUYING A SHOTGUN TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT KIND OF HAWK THEY ARE FOR SURE. SOME ARE PROTECTED, AND YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU DISCHARGE A SHOTGUN. IF YOU LIVE IN TOWN YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL YOURSELF.

Answer 8

hawks are scavengers and eat all of what ya listed above. from the sounds of it those hawks have a fairly steady food supply you don't have to worry about the dogs and cats. if you're that worried buy a shotgun.

Answer 9

well actually you might be a little conce4rned yet i think the animals like that can fend for themselves hawks usually eat mice rat squirrles snakes lizards and other small animals but it is a possibility

Answer 10

Hawks eat rodents, snakes, sometimes fish, anything small enough for them to kill really. I wouldn't put it past them to steal a puppy or a kitten either.