Birding/chicken hawks

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Expert: - 8/25/2006


Question
HI I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CHICKEN HAWKS WILL EAT SMALL DOGS I HAVE A 6LB APPLE HEAD CHIAHUAHUA THAT HOPS OR SKIPS LIKE A RABBIT WHEN HE WALK OR RUNS I NEED TO KNOW IF IT IS TRUE WILL A CHICKEN HAWK SWOOP DOWN AND GRAB HIM WITH HIS CLAWS AND EAT HIM OR KILL HIM PLEASE LET ME KNOW OH YEAH WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL OWLS AROUND HERE HOOING AT NIGHT AND I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY WILL SWOOP DOWN AND GET HIM IS THAT TRUE ALSO?

Answer
I'm guessing that you mean Red-tailed Hawk when you say "chicken hawk"? In any case, it is extremely rare for an owl or hawk to attack a dog, or even cat. It happens once in a very great while I suppose, but your dog is more likely to get struck by lightning than be attacked by a hawk or owl. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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