Hawks (live, eat, dog)

[MINIcoopKJG]

Rick or OTC, I'm guessing either one of you will know the answer. Will a hawk go after a 20 lb dog? The other half was sitting outside the other day watching a squirrel eating at the bird feeder. All of a sudden a hawk swooped down and grabbed the squirrel. The hawk dropped the squirrel, but picked it back up and flew off. This morning we were sitting outside when a hawk flew pretty low above us. I know that there is a hawk that lives across the street. We always see hawks soaring around, but they are getting a little too close for comfort and I am getting concerned about my dog. I might have to take the bird feeder down for a while.

[roxanneself]

It's very unlikely that a hawk can carry a dog that large. Their prey is limited to a few pounds. We used to watch peregrines and bald eagles hunt all the time off my back deck, and even those larger birds never went after anything bigger than a squirrel.

I would guess a really hungry one might swoop down and make a grab for your dog, but you probably don't have anything to worry about.
They hardly ever attack my dogs.

[OleTomCat]

No, that dog is too large, like Roxanne said mainly small fury, feathered or finned prey....

I did watch a Bald Eagle and two Osprey fight over a fish up on the lake once, was some pretty fantastic aerial maneuvers going on there...

[MINIcoopKJG]

Thanks Roxanne and OTC. I feel better now.