Great Horned Owls are rare in the area where I live, but I saw one today on top of a silk oak in my house at different hours. Are they known to prey on small dogs?
2006-10-14 17:08:21 · 13 answers · asked by ? 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
They sleep inside the house, but I usually let them out during the day.
2006-10-14 17:10:15 · update #1
(Toy poodles)
Do you how long owls usually hang around in one area?
Thank you.
2006-10-14 17:11:03 · update #2
I know they are night predators. But could they hunt during the day.
2006-10-14 17:12:34 · update #3
Owls are nocturnal and if he was out during the day he is most likely very ill. Owls do prey on animals smaller than they are for food. But it is doubtful that this is the case.
2006-10-14 17:13:32 · answer #1 · answered by Tammy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our sister's small dog disappeared after being let out just before sunrise. A great horned owl had been roosting in a large tree and hooting in the evening. After teh dog disappeared the owl was heard at night well below our home in a wooded area. We suspect the owl as the dog was very reliable about coming back to our front door after a half hour or so. We have seen the owl several times. A few times on our roof and once landed (at night) in our driveway. A very large specimen
2014-01-05 05:51:20 · answer #2 · answered by Tom 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Great Horned Owl will prey on anything warm-blooded that isn't nailed down. Do yourself a favor, and keep your pets confined in an enclosure with a top at night. If the owls are around during the day, then chances are they are looking for prey; if they were getting enough to eat for themselves and their offspring, they'd be at the nest during the day sleeping. If it were my dog, it wouldn't be out when I'd been seeing owls.
2006-10-14 17:16:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great horned owls are usually not active in the daytime, but sometimes at sunset. They have been known to prey on cats in remote areas or in absence of their accustomed prey. If you take them out at night, go with them; this should deter the owl, if it had any such ideas. If there is plenty of small prey, it probably wouldn't try a dog, which would be unfamiliar. Great horned owls have lived near me for 11 years, and I have always let my toy poodle and cats out in the daytime and even in the evening, as I know there are plenty of gophers and rats in the area.
2006-10-14 17:25:49 · answer #4 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unless you have puppies, the owls would probably not be a problem with your dogs. We have Chihuahuas and we live in an area with lots of owls and other prey birds and have never had a problem with them and the chihuahuas. Owls will only hunt at night or very ealry in the morning when it is just getting daylight.
2006-10-14 17:17:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baby owls leave the nest at a very young age and take strolls on the branches. They often show up on the ground, but are capable of climbing back up the tree. Be certain, the parents knew where the babies were. The general advice is that you leave such babies alone. It will be best for the babies... as well as you not risking an angry parent talon-dancing on your head. All baby birds are high maintenance projects, and owlets have specific dietary requirements and a huge appetite. My recommendation for you is to get hold of a Raptor organization (lots of them on the web... use Google) and find out if you can still return the babies to where you found them. If not, the same people would be the best source of information on what to do with the babies. I must also warn you that it is illegal for you to have ANY part of a raptor in your posession, dead or alive. (assuming you are in the US). So, you have multiple reasons to find the best home for the owlets. One raptor organization I know of is in my source. But you can find others closer to you I'm sure. Good luck!! (The owlets are so ugly they are cute, right??? :^)
2016-05-22 03:05:55 · answer #6 · answered by Dorothy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sure will. What often happens is that they will end up dropping the dog because it is wiggly, but the fall will kill it. I had a Great Horned Owl sitting in my tree (in town!) right after my Whippet babies had been out, I have no doubt he was looking for a little snack.
I wouldn't leave your little Poodle outside alone, unless it is in a kennel with a cover.
2006-10-14 17:39:57 · answer #7 · answered by whpptwmn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I watch the skies when my 12 lb. rat terrier is outside. Eagles in the day time and owls at night will take pets if their usual diet of mice, squirrels, and other wild critters are in short supply. We live near the 36,000 acre Honey Island Swamp in South Louisiana. A neighbor lost her yorkie' to a red tailed hawk not long ago.
2013-11-17 00:54:08 · answer #8 · answered by popseal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they will take small dogs, I'd be careful if you take the dogs out to potty at night (keep them on a leash).
I know someone who's Shih-tzu was grabbed by an owl, the owl couldn't keep a grip of him and dropped him, but the dog ended up dying from his injuries from the fall.
2006-10-14 17:37:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They often take mammals, even skunks (owls have great ears.eyes, lousy sense of smell)...so if they are hungry enough...
I'd be careful...I have a terrier that I have to keep my eye on for the same reason. Not likely of course, but I'd definitely not say 'never'.
2006-10-14 17:17:42 · answer #10 · answered by topdog_design 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋