I once watched red tail hawk pull squirrel out of nest in top of tree. Flew up about 200 feet and dropped squirrel. I suspect the squirrel started biting. When squirrel hit the ground it took off running like nothing happened. IMO raptors will only take squirrel as last resort due to risk of getting hurt. IMO why there so many squirrels
I once counted 17 in my back yard in Okieland.
When they started chewing on my house and SUV there was lot less….