Pet Predators

Episode 54: Mar 21, 2023 - Warning: Sensitive Content. "I believe it's necessary to know the truth; even when it's traumatic; in order to protect ourselves from peril." Nakala Matthews

We are in awe of nature. We may enjoy seeing wild animals roam our neighborhoods. Yet, we need to remember that these creatures are indeed wild. They are motivated to survive, and our pets are seen as menu items. We can respect them while simultaneously keeping our beloved pets out of harm's way. Education, however upsetting it may be, is one tool that we use to protect ourselves & our loved ones.

We hear the stories of coyotes feasting on felines, or of owls snatching up toy dog breeds for mealtime. To us, this is horrendous. To the hungry creatures, it's merely survival. As pet care providers, we receive calls from concerned pet guardians. They need to know that we'll keep their pups leashed at all times, and stick right next to them. We will. Yes, there are local people who have stories of their cats or small dogs being picked up & whisked away, right before their eyes. They stood there helpless, as it all happened in the blink of an eye

A couple decades ago, I was living in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California. While driving alone in the scenic hills, I came upon a traumatic scene. I won't go into details, but there were two coyotes and a single cat. Although I was able to frighten the coyotes away, it was too late. I can still picture it.

The predators are one of many reasons why we believe that all cats should be kept indoors, or have protected outdoor access, such as within a catio. Too many sweet felines have been hit while crossing the street, killed when seeking shelter & heat within automobiles, succumbed to frigid cold, or been wounded in cat fights. In addition to these dangers, many common garden flowers are toxic to kitties.

We need to be mindful when walking our dogs, or even while playing within our yards. Staying off the phone & not wearing headphones will help us to be mindful of our environments. Keeping small dogs leashed even while in your own fenced yard is a sound idea.

From what I've read, fences should go a foot beneath the ground & 7 feet above the ground, to keep coyotes out. People shouldn't keep food out for stray cats, or feed their dogs outside, as this will attract wildlife. I haven't tested these practices out, but scents such as vinegar have been suggested as coyote deterrents. Motion activated flood lights and water sprinklers on timers may assist.

Nextdoor (Bend, Oregon) within the last 2 weeks:

PSA : Just a warning if you're new to Bend. My friend had his cat picked up by a hawk, right in front of him. It was screaming as it was carried away. He was very traumatized, as you can imagine. If you have small dogs or cats, you should keep this in mind when letting them be outside. He was approximately 30 ft from his cat when this happened. He now feels that if he had been closer, the hawk may not have attempted to attack. 😔

Yes, I am a firefighter and have found cats stripped of all flesh on their skeleton, EXCEPT their tail hair, feet and head. Picked clean, out in the middle of nowhere. I'm assuming by a feathery predator. You know there were no houses nearby, so the cat had to be carried a long way.

My cat was injured that we later came to the conclusion because of the talon marks on her back of neck and shoulders and holes in her lungs that only could have happened from falling from a high place or a very hard kick to the chest type of force to her chest cavity ( like being carried off and dropped mid flight ) would cause 2 collapsed lungs….$3000 in vet bills and 2 years later I am happy to report she is fine except she doesn’t want to go outside anymore.

Remember also the coyotes love to snack on cats and small dogs. They run freely through the neighborhoods on the west side of town I don’t know about the Eastside. Every once in a while in the spring and summer, I hear a cat screaming behind my house. Please keep your pets and doors unless they released and you’re right next to them. Also sorry for your loss.

One of our Jack Russells got punctured in his abdomen (he recovered!) and the vet said it was likely a coyote or bird of prey. A couple days later, we discovered a giant owl perched on our fence. If our little guy was any lighter, there’s no doubt he would have been carried off.

(There are several more stories, but I'm certain that you've got the gist of it.)

The Wildest:

How to Protect Your Dog from Hawks and Other Birds of Prey- Hawk attacks on dogs are more common than you might think — here's how to keep your pup safe. BY STEVEN NEILLJULY 20, 2021

Hawks, owls, and other birds of prey don’t know the difference between a dog and say, a rabbit or a rat — to them, they’re all on the menu. Actually, it’s fairly common for dogs to be attacked by hawks and the like, which is why you should know how to keep your pup out of their talons and safely on the ground.

My friend Dave lives in an upscale neighborhood nestled amongst a dense stand of mature Ponderosa pine trees. One late summer evening, Dave, his wife, their eight-pound Pomeranian Sushi, and another couple took a walk in the woods. Chit-chatting as close friends do, they were lost in conversation, making for an enjoyable evening.

Then, from the corner of his eye, Dave saw a shape streaking toward them, and before he could react, Sushi let out a scream as a Great Horned Owl grabbed and lifted her into the air. The dog’s leash was pulled from Dave’s hand, and he watched helplessly as the owl carried Sushi toward some trees before dropping her to her death.

One night, in Beech Island, South Carolina, William Grace was awakened from his nap by the terrifying scream of his 10-year-old Pomeranian, Tee. Grace ran out of his house and into his backyard to find a large hawk attacking his 10-pound dog. He wanted to kill the bird, but raptors (another word for birds of prey) are federally protected, so he could only chase it away. But it was too late.

Dogs weighing as much as 60 pounds are on record for raptor attacks. Though the instances of them being killed are uncommon, it happens often enough to make precautions worthwhile.

On the other hand, any dog under 20 pounds is at serious risk of being hunted by birds whose natural prey generally includes rodents, birds, rabbits, snakes, and insects. Hawks and their cousins are opportunistic animals, so dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, ferrets, guinea pigs, ducks, rabbits, and chickens are all at stake. Fiercely protective of their nests, these formidable birds are also known to attack larger animals, and even humans on occasion.

Which Birds of Prey Attack Dogs?

It’s not just hawks you should look out for. These birds are the most reoccurring offenders:

• The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is responsible for the highest number of attacks on dogs. These birds are common in cities and suburban areas, and are the most familiar owl in the world. Large and aggressive birds, they are masters of camouflage and are nearly silent when they fly. They’re usually nocturnal hunters, but can be active during the day in winter.

• The next most common threat to dogs is the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). They are found throughout the Northern states, Canada, and Alaska, and in the lower states occasionally. They prefer old-growth forests and generally build their nests in large trees by clearings, within a short distance to a lake or river. Beautiful and prized by falconers, these magnificent birds mate for life and will aggressively protect their territory.

• Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are also notorious for their swift hunting skills. The species is widespread throughout the continental United States and most of Canada, mostly because they’re so adaptable. They thrive in deserts, tundra, grasslands, forests, marshes, and suburban areas around the country.

• Other raptors to be wary of include the Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa), Barred Owl (Strix varia), Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii), and Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)Do if You See Coyotes While Walking Your Dog Tips on avoiding confrontations with coyotes.
  

How to Protect Your Dog from Hawks and Other Birds of Prey

To avoid ending up in a scary, life-threatening situation, here are a few things you can do:

• Most importantly, stay with your dog while they’re outside. To effectively deter raptors, you must be visible to them, so remain in full view while your dog is playing. Birds will generally move along when you’re nearby.

• Build a covered enclosure — it’s the safest way to leave your pup unsupervised. Plus, the roof provides shade from the sun, shelter from the rain, and protection from raptors while fencing keeps them safe from other threats.

• If a fenced and covered enclosure is out of the question, keep your dog under the canopy of a tree or near shrubs — they make it harder for birds to see and therefore attack.

• If possible, take more than one dog out at a time. Extra animals are intimidating.

• Put up moving, shiny objects in the yard such as silver streamers. They’ve been known to scare off hawks in the past.

• Don’t leave bird seed on the ground, as it can attract aerial hunters.

• Feed your dog indoors and clean up any leftover food that might attract mice, squirrels, or rats, which are frequent targets.

• Get your dog a talon-proof vest for outdoor activities.

• When spending time outside with your dog, try to avoid areas where raptors are known to hunt.

While you’re implementing these practices in your dog’s daily routine, it’s important to understand that all raptors are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to injure, capture, or kill them, or disturb their nests or offspring. Protecting dogs is not a justifiable excuse for harming a raptor, and you may be subject to severe fines, jail time, or both if you do so.

Even if you live in an area where hawks and their fellow friends aren’t prevalent, these safety measures can work to protect your pup from other predators such as coyotes, foxes, bears, and other dogs.

The Humane Society of the United States:

Coyotes, pets and community cats - What you need to know about protecting your pets and community cats from coyotes - WILD NEIGHBORS (ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK) Many people assume that coyotes don't live in suburban or urban neighborhoods because they don't see them. But that assumption can be dangerous for your animal companions. Coyotes typically hunt small mammals such as mice, voles and rabbits. If given the opportunity, they will also make a meal of a cat, tame or feral.

Dogs, especially smaller breeds, are also at risk, although attacks on them are rarer. The best way to protect your pets is to let them outside only when you are with them—especially at night—and to keep pet food and water inside.

Protecting your pet cat Coyotes aren't the only threat cats face when they go outside—there are far greater dangers. When you allow your cat to roam freely outdoors, even for short periods of time, you expose her to perils such as cars, dogs, diseases, coyotes, poisons and cruel people. If you want your cat to be safe, keep her indoors.

Some people let their cats outside because they mistakenly believe it's cruel to keep cats indoors. The truth is that cats who are protected from the dangers outside live longer, happier lives. (You'll be helping your neighboring wildlife stay safer and happier as well.)

We've got guidelines to help you keep your indoor cat happy.

Protecting feral cat colonies People who feed feral cats are often concerned that coyotes might prey on the cats. These concerns are well founded, as coyotes will be attracted to both the outdoor pet food and the cats themselves as prey. Here are some general suggestions for keeping such cats safer:

• Feed cats only during the day and at a set time—and pick up any leftovers immediately

• Provide escape routes for cats

• In treeless or open areas, erect "cat posts"—long pieces of wood (four inches by four inches or corner posts) that stand out of the ground at least ten to twelve feet. These can be climbed by cats but not by coyotes

• Elevate feeding stations beyond coyotes’—but not the cats’—reach

• Discourage/harass coyotes seen on the property. Go after them aggressively, using the techniques described in our coyote hazing guidelines. Making them feel uncomfortable will encourage them to stay out of the area.

Protecting dogs Dogs (especially small dogs) are also vulnerable to coyote confrontations. These incidents generally involve coyotes who are accustomed or habituated to people (usually due to wildlife feeding) or coyotes who are protecting their territory and pups (usually during breeding season).

Dogs (especially small dogs) should not be left outside unattended, should never be chained and should always be kept on a leash in public areas. It is important to never let your dog interact or play with a coyote. Pet food and water should be kept indoors to avoid attracting coyotes to your yard.

Although “attacks” on larger dogs are rarer, coyotes will sometimes go after a large dog when they feel that their territory is threatened. This generally occurs during the coyote breeding season, which takes place from January through March. During this time, it is especially important not to let dogs outside unattended and to keep them on leashes when in public areas.

Fencing can be used to keep coyotes out of residential yards, but it must be at least six feet tall and should extend underground at least six inches or be parallel to the ground at least 12 inches and secured with landscaping staples. Devices such as the "coyote roller,” which “rolls off” coyotes that try to scramble over the fence, can enhance the effectiveness of a fence. Do-it-yourself options also include adding PVC piping or chicken wire to the top of your fence to prevent coyotes from jumping over and retrofitting a mesh apron to the bottom of the fence (extending at least 12 inches out and secured with landscaping staples) to keep coyotes from digging under.