A great horned owl just swooped by my dog! (how much, house)

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

The privacy fence won't stop coyotes. But you've been through the drill already with your dog, so you know how vigilant you need to be.

Yeah, I figured as much, but a high privacy fence is better than just being out in the open, KWIM?

I've been out there with the animals every time, even if it is at 2 AM with a flashlight because a dog has to potty. I sweep the backyard (small) with a flashlight before I let them out there blind, too.

My apt complex has several friendly stray cats that live on the property. Community cats, I suppose, as several people seem to share in feeding them. I hope the fact that they are here in the open is an indication that there isn't a high number of predators in my immediate area, but I will still do what I can to keep them safe.

[DetroitN8V]

I'm curious to know if the owl was just being territorial or if it poses a real threat to a 30 pound, meatball of a dog. Any owl experts?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Phxguy

Lost one of our cats to an owl and another to a pack of coyotes. Keep your pets indoors at night.

All the time! Unless on a leash.

IMO, 30# is too big for an GH Owl to fly off with, that is Golden Eagle size prey.

[observer53]

I think if it tried to pick up a dog of that weight, it might well drop it... which could injure the dog not just from the talons, but from the fall.

Years ago, my sister was living on acreage out in Peoria. She was out before dawn feeding the horses and heard a commotion from the chickens who roosted in the mulberry tree just outside her back yard. She ran over to see what was going on and found a GHO standing on one of her chickens. She spooked it, and it flew to the nearby fence, while the chicken ran off. The owl flew away. She never saw another one.

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Originally Posted by Phxguy

Lost one of our cats to an owl and another to a pack of coyotes. Keep your pets indoors at night.

Or ALWAYS. If you know there are predators out there why would you let your kitties out at all?!!

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I'm curious to know if the owl was just being territorial or if it poses a real threat to a 30 pound, meatball of a dog. Any owl experts?

This! They are competing with other predators. No different than Crows mobbing an owl. An owl usually won't risk getting hurt but if it was hunting that area it was probably teed off and wanted the dog out of there chop chop so it can go back to hunting.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by karen_in_nh_2012

Or ALWAYS. If you know there are predators out there why would you let your kitties out at all?!!

Please let's not turn this into a thread about outdoor cats generally, which involves more than just safety from predators. That's another topic for another forum.

[lvoc]

According to rural sister in law only small cats are in danger from owls. She says the bigger cats can generally fend them off with little damage. She would sit up all night when an owl was working her barn cats. Big shotgun and a flashlight. She would lose two or three before she realized then she would stake it out for a few days.

[sargentodiaz]

[mod cut-orphaned]
Great Horned Owls do not live in the Sonora Desert but in the Eastern United States.

Most owls weigh less than 10 lbs and would therefore be aerodynamically unable to life a 30 pound animal.

Owls, like the vast majority of creatures only attack for 2 reasons - either for food or to protect their young. In selecting food, they seek out creatures they know, without a doubt, they are superior to. Owls live on small rodents and there is absolutely no reason one would attack a 30 pound dog.

[mod cut-- rude]

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by sargentodiaz

Great Horned Owls do not live in the Sonora Desert but in the Eastern United States.

Most owls weigh less than 10 lbs and would therefore be aerodynamically unable to life a 30 pound animal.

Owls, like the vast majority of creatures only attack for 2 reasons - either for food or to protect their young. In selecting food, they seek out creatures they know, without a doubt, they are superior to. Owls live on small rodents and there is absolutely no reason one would attack a 30 pound dog.

LOL!!! I guess the AZ Game and Fish Department is wrong?

Arizona Game and Fish

...great horned owls are common residents in Tucson, Phoenix and other urban areas of Arizona.

Maybe the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has their facts wrong too?

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Great Horned Owl: This owl occurs throughout the New World, except the extreme north. It is found in every habitat within our region.