I HATE Eagles

[Darc]

Well, we almost lost Piper last night. About 1/2 hour before dark I let the dogs out for a romp. I was sitting at the kitchen table when I saw a dark shape out of the corner of my eye sorta swoop low across the yard. EAGLE!!! I was out of my chair and out the door so fast. Piper is totally oblivious to the whole thing. I was out fast enough that the bird changed course and just made it over the roof of the house. I grabbed Piper and called the other (BIG) dog and into the house we went.

Now I really have a problem. This morning I went out with the dogs for the morning wander about the yard. This was at 5:30am. We immeadiatley came back into the house as soon as the dogs were done their business. I went back outside about 5 minutes later to sit and have my coffee, and the dogs went back to bed for somemore sleep . I can hear a crow going nuts so I had a good look around. Up in a tree in the neighbors yard is a damn Eagle watching our yard. He may have been there when we went out earlier but I was also in the yard. That animal sat in that tree until 7:30am so for about 1 hr and 45 minutes. WAITING for another chance at Piper.

So - now I can't let Piper out into the yard unsupervised at all. At 5.5 months old he is going to be Eagle bait if I turn my back. Once they know there is a target around they don't let up until they get it. Been there and done that with my poultry. It was so bad that I gave up on poultry 2 yrs ago.

Piper needs to grow and do it quick to become less of a target.

I don't know what we are going to do.

[c_c]

oh wow thats terrible and quite frightening, we dont have eagles here most birds are quite small and harvey chases them away but an eagle, you must be really careful and keep an eye at all times which is difficult but its not long till they grow up and get stronger.

[Amber and the zoo]

How incredibly scary! We have lots of eagles around here and I was hoping the furkids were getting too big; however now that I think about it, they can carry off quite a bit of weight. We had 20 bald eagles out in my parents field and I am always cautious when we are at their house. It only takes one second to lose one. Maybe you will have to put a scare crow up. I don't know how well they work on eagles though.

~Amber~

[Pepandfriend's mom]

That is the darndest thing. I hope you can figure out something, maybe getting some advice from the Game and Fish Dept., if B.C.'s government has that kind of department. Am glad you were able to get Piper out of there ok. That probably happens around here too (AZ) but not in the middle of town where I live.

pam

[sheila and Misty]

we have hawks and herons so everyone has to watch out for their ponds and small dogs ect...it is scarey I know they have to eat like everything eles ,but I'd much rather not have them around -theres enough road kill out there-watch closely theyre all sooooo fast!

[Darc]

This is a picture from 2005. The rotter is eating one of my chickens. I AM 3 FEET AWAY!!!.

They are afraid of not much. This is why I am afraid for Piper

[Tracy A.]

We have a lot of Hawks out where I live. We have a hawks nest in our pondrosa pine in the front yard... it's empty this year, but hasn't been in past years.

Even though Eagle's are bigger, I think it's the same hunting premis- being able to swoop in and grap something. Our back yard has an open area that is like a 'runway'- so my husband has gone about planting trees- Brids of prey are careful about their wings, and won't go into too tight an area.

I see our local hawk circling high above several times a week, I know he is eyeing they boys- but at 22 & 23 pounds they are a bit big for him- so perception of size is everything.... you can try to make the dogs look bigger too.

A quick fix I have herad used out here is to get a volly ball net, get a roll vinyl or plastic marking tape (you know the stuff they use to create a marked area like when landscaping or building) and weave it through the netting in each row, so looks solid- put it up in the center of the 'runway' area in your back yard. If your yard is large enough buy two. The Eagle can now see it clearly and will have to fly around it. - Weaving the tape in it is key, otherwise the bird won't see it.

Last weekend we saw the local hawk, he had a garter snake held in his talons as he was flying off

the picture of the Bald Eagle eating your chicken is very un-nerving....

[Darcy's Folks]

We simply never leave our two unsupervised. We have too many large owls and coyotes in our area. It's just become a fact of life for us that when they go out, we go out with them. Sorry for the troubles and stress you are feeling about this. One night my husband was letting the dogs out and a coyote was on the other side of our fence!

[c_c]

wow you guys have a lot to look out for sounds quite scary when reading it eagles,hawks,coyotes the scariest thing we have in the city is a fox and they run as soon as they see you, i think here harvey is more of the hunter and things are scared of him rather than the other way about.

[OzGirl]

Wow what a worry! I would be cautious about letting Piper out alone even when fully grown especially after seeing that eagle eating one of your chickens, presumably still in your yard.

I used to not let Roxy out alone when she was very little because of the hawks we have around here (a friend lost her rabbit to one). Now the girls are fully grown I'm pretty sure they are safe from the hawks.

On the idea of Mysticsol8 about the volleyball net could you buy some plastic bird netting (people use it here to keep birds off fruit trees). Its quite wide and you would still be able to thread something bright through is so the eagles could see it and it would cover a larger area of your yard.

[Teri9672]

when we first brought Teona home the vet warned us about the owls in our area.

She was tiny enough to be carried away if she was spotted. The owls, hawks and herons sit on the telephone wires back behind our house. Our yard backs up to a large drainage ditch.

I think the girls are safe now being grown. Teona hates the birds, she doesn't like them anywhere near her yard. Same goes for the airplanes that fly by too. She chases them as they fly by

[Izabella's Mom]

I'm thinking I would get a sling shot and make my place a little uncomfortable for the birds.

Is there room in your life for a Rottie or Dobberman or somethjing intimidating like that? I know Eagles are no ordinary birds but I watched a program where they used Border Collies to clear the airport of birds so maybe their natural instinct to chase might work. You might need a few.

You have my sympathy.

Barbara

[Darc]

We have a LARGE dog as well, he just wasn't handy right at that moment. And boy does he HATE eagles as well but he is also smart enough not to get too close. He was about 4 feet away from the eagle in that picture - going nuts and barking. The Eagle did not care, he would just look at him once in a while, spread his wings and hiss. I hate to think the damage that one of those birds would do to him if he actually caught one.

Normally, Piper is right with our big dog as they are best buds but for whatever reason, Piper was up near the house and Joey was back in the trees. Our cats are eagle aware. I sure wish Piper wasn't so oblivious. We have a very large yard (1 acre) but the boys only have access to 1/2 of it. No way to sting things across yard as its. too big. I will just have to go out with them when they need to play. So much for all the effort/expense of a dog proof yard.

[jimnconnie]

WOW!, that is really scary! I guess our National Symbol isn't always welcome, is it? I don't know if this is a possiblilty, but maybe you should consider a kennel ( with a top!!) for when you want to leave the dogs outside alone. I know it's not the perfect solution, and probably expensive, but it might be worth the peace of mind. We have hawks in our area once in a while, but they are not nearly the threat that a eagle is. You're right about one thing, they are predators and they will wait, and wait, and wait, until the opportunity is there to snatch their prey. Good-luck.

[kcsdogs]

Whoa.... that is scary , and I suppose there is not much you can do. I don't think animal control will relocate Eagles.

[toomanypaws]

Wow, that eagle really meant business w/ your chicken! They are beautiful birds of prey, but I can't even fathom seeing one carry one of my pets away. We have the hawks and coyotes to be concerned about here. I just won't leave mine unattended outside. The hawk was so bold one time, he swooped down below our 6 ft fence and coasted across the yard and over the rabbit pen in hopes one would be out. My rabbits are mainly in a hutch, but they love their outdoor pen. I bought some bamboo fencing that is light enough to lay over their pen to keep the hawk from them. My westie is still small and a very easy target being he's white, so I'm forever keeping a close watch on him. My aussie is a great bodyguard for the backyard. I always turn him out first to run the wildlife off before letting the little ones out.