Owls

[Gabbi1393]

In the past few days I have seen and heard two owls in the yard. Are they dangerous? I have a small dog (4 lbs) and am worried about taking her out. Any help, suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

[Bonny]

If your dog is only 4 lbs., I would definitely be careful if the owls are fairly large. They are very powerful birds.

[kittygilchrist]

I agree, and I'm usually the one who says don't worry about your pets. 4lbs is just so tiny I'd not let that one out loose with owls around. I can't believe I'm saying this, but that dog is smaller than my wallet.

[walterray]

In the past few days I have seen and heard two owls in the yard. Are they dangerous? I have a small dog (4 lbs) and am worried about taking her out. Any help, suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

Sounds like it would make a nice snack for a hungry owl. :mmmm:

[kittygilchrist]

Owl Food and Hunting - The Owl Pages (http://www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=owl+physiology&title=Food)

I'd like to elucidate you as to how irrational your fear is, but I have a boxer, so what me worry? Your fear of having a tiny dog out without a lead seems well-reasoned..oh dear. I wish I had better news.

[tippyclubb]

Yes owls are predatory and can carry off small dogs. Never leave your dog unattended and always keep it leashed.

I don't mean to scare you with this link but posting it to let you know it does happen, so be careful.

owls taking dogs - Bing Videos (http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=owls+taking+dogs&qpvt=owls+taking+dogs&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=64D47245D23F209250EA64D47245D23F209250EA)

[DGx2]

Agreed! We have a lot of great horned owls, eagles and other predatory birds that could easily carry off a dog that size. Not to mention alligators. We have had all of the above in or around our yard at one time or another. We try to be careful when letting our dog out at night, either by standing right near him or keeping him on a leash. Our 8# Yorkie would put up a good fight but he's no match for some of the owls not to mention the 9' alligator that was roaming around our neighborhood several months ago.

[Gabbi1393]

Well thank you to all. Rest assured that I do not let the dog outside unattended. I do however walk around the yard with her not on a leash. I do worry about something grabbing her (4lb Chihuahua). I guess I didn't know if me being by her side would keep the owls away. I switched to the front yard but will keep her leased. More trips to the doggie parks for Gabbi !

[cromlich]

What about all the hawks that are around. I most certainly wouldn't let my dog out without being with! Lots of predators around. Wildlife exists everywhere. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Carl in Tampa]

I would always be concerned about the safety of a dog as small as the one you describe.

However, with regard to the owls you hear, I would expect that they are either burrowing owls or screech owls, both are very small owls.

There is an area within The Villages along Buena Vista, which is habituated by burrowing owls, which is designated as an endangered species area although the owls are not endangered. They share the area with some kind of burrowing turtle which is endangered.

They are a small owl which eats insects and small rodents. You can learn more about them at Burrowing Owl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_Owl) .

Also to be found in this area is the screech owl, another small owl. The characteristic of this owl is a call that sounds like a horse whinnying....honest. Go here Eastern Screech-Owl, Sounds, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_screech-owl/sounds) and play Descending whinny, monotonic trill .

Where burrowing owls live in holes in the ground, screech owls live in hollows of old trees. They also feed on small mammals, mainly rodents. More about them at Screech owl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screech_owl) . If you saw either of these owls on the ground near your house I doubt that you could tell them apart. However, if they were on the ground it might be more likely that they are burrowing owls, particularly in view of the fact that we have an area nearby that is a sanctuary for them. Also, screech owls are more solitary and unlikely to be seen in pairs.

I had a screech owl in my back yard in Tampa a few years ago and enjoyed hearing his distinctive call.

As has already been mentioned, your small dog might be of greater danger from a hawk or eagle; we have both in this area. At any time of the day they could swoop down and snatch your dog and fly away. There are videos of this happening on youtube. It would be prudent to always keep it on a leash when outside.

:thumbup:

[DebbieB]

Yes, I would keep a watchful eye, just last week, I saw my first red fox right in my back yard here in the Villages.

[Bonny]

Well thank you to all. Rest assured that I do not let the dog outside unattended. I do however walk around the yard with her not on a leash. I do worry about something grabbing her (4lb Chihuahua). I guess I didn't know if me being by her side would keep the owls away. I switched to the front yard but will keep her leased. More trips to the doggie parks for Gabbi !
Why would you not have a leash on your baby ???!!! If a bird of prey came down and grabbed your little babe, there would be nothing you could do to save the pup !!!
If you love your dog, you would definitely have a leash on it !!!!!!!!