Walking dogs at night and surprise visitor

[Trayderjoe]

I was walking my two 15 lb dogs last night, on leash (as ALWAYS), when I looked over my shoulder for traffic and was shocked to have a large wingspan bird (I believe an owl-it came and went too fast for me to tell) quietly fly just over my head- literally less than 3 feet above me. I have seen large owls perched on roofs, and hear them periodically when out walking in the dark, so seeing one in flight isn’t necessarily a surprise. What was shocking was how close it came to me as I wear a very visible LED vest and have LED harnesses on my dogs. Coincidentally, one of the dogs vests had shutdown during our walk prior to the bird appearing, but both dogs were next to each other and I was about 3 feet away.

So keep in mind that coyotes are not the only danger to your furry friends, and that there are diurnal birds of prey as well.

[Whitley]

Mothman?

[ex34449]

If it was at night did you mean nocturnal? Diurnal is daytime active.
If you didn't hear it, it was most likely an owl. I've had them swoop at me from a similar distance and never heard a thing. They are stealthy beyond belief in flight. A coyote may stalk you from a distance but if your dogs were leashed it'll never bother you.
During daytime it isn't uncommon for eagles and hawks to take smaller puppies and kittens.

[Trayderjoe]

If it was at night did you mean nocturnal? Diurnal is daytime active.
If you didn't hear it, it was most likely an owl. I've had them swoop at me from a similar distance and never heard a thing. They are stealthy beyond belief in flight. A coyote may stalk you from a distance but if your dogs were leashed it'll never bother you.
During daytime it isn't uncommon for eagles and hawks to take smaller puppies and kittens.

I did mean diurnal as birds of prey could grab a small dog day or night. I believe hawks are diurnal, not sure other than owls, what other birds of prey are nocturnal.

Yes, I didn’t hear what I believe to be an owl, I became aware of it by serendipity. I never knew that they might approach that close to a person. I could see swoopIng in for a small dog, but given the lighted vests and my proximity to the dogs I was thrown for a loop.

[Stu from NYC]

Happy days are here we have a Trayder Joe in the villages.

Now we just need a Costco.

[Taltarzac725]

There could be a nest around? Bird is protecting its young.

[Bay Kid]

I love to hear a flock of geese fly by overhead.

[Flybob]

Happy days are here we have a Trayder Joe in the villages.

Now we just need a Costco.

Unable to find any info on Trader Joe’s in the Villages, Can it be true?

[airstreamingypsy]

I have a Great Horned Owl in on of my Oak Trees, He, or she, has flown over me in the dark too. It's a bit disconcerting. They are so big, yet they don't make a sound, which is why they are such good hunters. I have big dogs so I don't worry about it, but small dogs would make a tasty meal. Cats too.

[Gator_Girl]

Unable to find any info on Trader Joe’s in the Villages, Can it be true?

I believe it was a reference to the person who commented, their user name.

[MandoMan]

I did mean diurnal as birds of prey could grab a small dog day or night. I believe hawks are diurnal, not sure other than owls, what other birds of prey are nocturnal.

Yes, I didn’t hear what I believe to be an owl, I became aware of it by serendipity. I never knew that they might approach that close to a person. I could see swoopIng in for a small dog, but given the lighted vests and my proximity to the dogs I was thrown for a loop.

I don’t think there are any owls that can lift a fifteen pound dog, lighted or not. Great that you and they are lighted though. (Some walkers and bicyclers without lights don’t realize that to drivers with dimmed lights, they all look like Trayvon Martin in a hoody.) I think owls generally eat mice, chipmunks, an occasional squirrel. Not dogs. An eagle might try, but that would be unlikely. Coyote or bobcat or gator: sure, if it caught the dog alone.

[Steve]

Unable to find any info on Trader Joe’s in the Villages, Can it be true?

The post you are referring to was about a previous post by someone using "TrayderJoe" as a moniker. There is no "Trader Joe's" coming to The Villages...yet.

[Lovey2]

If it was at night did you mean nocturnal? Diurnal is daytime active.
If you didn't hear it, it was most likely an owl. I've had them swoop at me from a similar distance and never heard a thing. They are stealthy beyond belief in flight. A coyote may stalk you from a distance but if your dogs were leashed it'll never bother you.
During daytime it isn't uncommon for eagles and hawks to take smaller puppies and kittens.
Pretty sure he meant what he said. He said diurnal AS WELL...

[Freeda]

Coyotes have been known to nocturnally attack not only small dogs, but also larger dogs, and even humans, if they are sick or very hungry; it's rare that they attack other than small prey, but it has happened.

[bark4me]

I was walking my two 15 lb dogs last night, on leash (as ALWAYS), when I looked over my shoulder for traffic and was shocked to have a large wingspan bird (I believe an owl-it came and went too fast for me to tell) quietly fly just over my head- literally less than 3 feet above me. I have seen large owls perched on roofs, and hear them periodically when out walking in the dark, so seeing one in flight isn’t necessarily a surprise. What was shocking was how close it came to me as I wear a very visible LED vest and have LED harnesses on my dogs. Coincidentally, one of the dogs vests had shutdown during our walk prior to the bird appearing, but both dogs were next to each other and I was about 3 feet away.

So keep in mind that coyotes are not the only danger to your furry friends, and that there are diurnal birds of prey as well.
Yes this has happen to me several times too. Sometimes they spotted prey near you and went to go get it. Other times it has been them checking us out then realizing we weren't small prey

[OhioBuckeye]

Yes, small pets are easy prey! Always have them on leach. Coyotes are very sneaky!

[TCNY61]

Pack of coyotes surrounds dog walker in Massachusetts | WJAR (https://turnto10.com/news/local/pack-of-coyotes-surrounds-dog-walker-in-massachusetts)


If it was at night did you mean nocturnal? Diurnal is daytime active.
If you didn't hear it, it was most likely an owl. I've had them swoop at me from a similar distance and never heard a thing. They are stealthy beyond belief in flight. A coyote may stalk you from a distance but if your dogs were leashed it'll never bother you.
During daytime it isn't uncommon for eagles and hawks to take smaller puppies and kittens.