Owl swooping large dogs

[Liberal_in_LA]

Owl swooping on dogs on Berkeley hiking trail

An owl that has made its nest in a Eucalyptus tree on a Claremont Canyon fire trail is swooping on dogs. Photo: Andy Fremder


Andy Fremder took this photograph of an owl that has made its nest in the crotch of a Eucalyptus tree on the Claremont Canyon fire trail. The same spot was claimed a couple of years ago by a family of owls.

Park rangers are asking that dogs be kept on leash on the section of the trail close to the nest. One hiker even claims the bird is swooping down on smaller varieties of canines. Comments from Berkeleyside readers seem to confirm this. Rob S. in Rockridge wrote: “That thing swooped my 80 lb golden retriever!”, while Matt Eccles reported the bird had swooped down on his 115 lb dog.

http://blog.sfgate.com/inberkeley/2012/03/12/owl-swoops-on-dogs-on-berkeley-hiking-trail/?tsp=1

[Rex]

1. Great Horned Owl.

They are very BIG raptors.

Beautiful birds. And dangerous if you mess with them.
http://www.owlpages.com/image.php?image=species-Bubo-virginianus-1

[Robeysays]

2. he looks pissed. haha.

fuck yo dog M.Fer. SWOOOOOOOSH.

[Blue Owl]

3. Wasn't me!

This owl digs dogs!

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. lol

[H2O Man]

5. Much like the Goshawk,

some owls do not like large animals approaching their nests.

[hifiguy]

6. I don't think the owl would do well against a 100+ lb dog

but it could probably carry a small dog away. That is a BIG owl.

Owls are the coolest of all birds.

[Ian David]

7. Are there owl pellets with Rottweiler bones in them? n/t

[auburngrad82]

8. I'm guessing it's protecting its nest

Smaller birds will do the same thing if something approaches its nest, especially if there are eggs or babies.