Those Moving To Alaska With Small Animals (food, yard)

[Alaskapat528]

Hi all,

Just wanted to mention to anyone planning on moving up here. Get your Certificate of Health at the Vet's before you come (if air travel, do it within 10days of the take-off flight) and be sure vaccinations are current and you have the record with you.

Also, VERY important. Small animals up here (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.,) are prey for bald eagles. Do NOT leave your small animals alone in a yard and if you are near an open field, (stopping to let dog go to bathroom), keep it on a leash and keep your eyes open. I remember reading that quite a few years ago tourists were in Alaska and a bald eagle flew down and took the poodle dog. So just wanted to make everyone aware to watch for that. Good trip for all coming up.

[Barkingowl]

We have a poodle too. But we're leaving him down south.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

Also, VERY important. Small animals up here (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.,) are prey for bald eagles. Do NOT leave your small animals alone in a yard and if you are near an open field, (stopping to let dog go to bathroom), keep it on a leash and keep your eyes open. I remember reading that quite a few years ago tourists were in Alaska and a bald eagle flew down and took the poodle dog. So just wanted to make everyone aware to watch for that. Good trip for all coming up.

Yes, that happened to my aunt's cat, but she must have squirmed so much that it dropped her. Amazingly, she survived and after some surgeries seemed to be physically okay. But she never quite acted the same, and she died about a year later. I think the whole experience was just too much for her.

[HighlandLady]

Thank you for that...I have four animals, though the cat and the Papillon are the only two that would be considered tasty morsels. If an eagle can lug off the two Labs, well...good luck with that.

[WAmomof4]

We have a 20lb jack russell....would that be considered "small" enough that we should be cautious???

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by WAmomof4

We have a 20lb jack russell....would that be considered "small" enough that we should be cautious???

I'm not sure an eagle could actually pick up a 20lb dog, but it sure as heck might try, which in itself could be very harmful for the dog. I would keep a close eye.

[fightguy]

Originally Posted by WAmomof4

We have a 20lb jack russell....would that be considered "small" enough that we should be cautious???

We have two 20lb pugs and have never had any problems

Originally Posted by Xa'at

I'm not sure an eagle could actually pick up a 20lb dog, but it sure as heck might try, which in itself could be very harmful for the dog. I would keep a close eye.

There was an article recently in the Juneau Empire about the myths about bald eagles, and if I remember correctly, the weight limit that they can actually "fly off with" was around 8lbs. Of course, when they grab fish they can "lift" heavier, because they often just glide right above the water with them until they get to land where they can tear them up

[Rance]

I've seen more than one eagle dog paddling toward shore with a much too large salmon in it's grasp. They could fly off with a little poodle but anything much bigger than a cat shouldn't have to worry.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

I haven't seen an eagle actually be able to fly off with anything larger than say 12-15 lbs. But I have seen an eagle dive bomb, kill, and subsequently eat a lab "puppy" (about 5 months old). I've seen 'em dive bomb (in tag team) a baby beluga at Turnagain until it beached itself and then they ate it.

The way I see it, if the eagle is hungry enough, it will at least attempt to disable prey enough that it can kill it and eat it even if it can't fly off with it.

[BudinAk]

I've never seen them go after any dog or cat, but I have watched them "dive bomb" the sea otters that have clams on their chest, trying to eat. The otters always panic and dive, leaving the morsel of food behind for the eagles to scoop up....
I think they would have a very hard time flying more than a couple hundred feet or so with anything more than 5 to 7 lbs. They might be able to kill something weighing 20lbs, but they sure aren't going to fly off with it...

Bud