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owl stalking my dog

Bradu

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 24, 2011
3,734
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IL
I took my chihuahua for a walk tonight and there was an owl on the railing of the neighbors porch, I wouldn't have seen it if it wasn't for the dog barking. I shortened up the leash and kept walking, then the owl moved to a tree to get a better view. We crossed the street and the damn thing flew to the tree in front of us so I decided it was time to pick her up and go inside. Any ideas on how to scare it away? I'm worried about the wife walking the dog and not paying attention.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bradu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I took my chihuahua for a walk tonight and there was an owl on the railing of the neighbors porch, I wouldn't have seen it if it wasn't for the dog barking. I shortened up the leash and kept walking, then the owl moved to a tree to get a better view. We crossed the street and the damn thing flew to the tree in front of us so I decided it was time to pick her up and go inside. Any ideas on how to scare it away? I'm worried about the wife walking the dog and not paying attention.</div></div>

You're asking the wrong group of people about how to "scare" off something...
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I know what I want to do but trying a different approach. If something happens to our puppy the wife will be a mess.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Do yourself a favor and let the owl take the little rat so you have an excuse to get a real dog.
wink.gif


But seriously, you can't legally shoot the thing. Your legal options are pretty emasculating. If the thing has had luck hunting cats and cute little purse dogs in the area, you pretty much have to wait for it to die. We had owls get used to taking fowl from the farm and once they figured out that game there was no legal way to break them of it. We documented the evidence (several dozen dead fowl in a weekend), got a permit to trap the bird, and they took it away.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

"Do yourself a favor and let the owl take the little rat so you have an excuse to get a real dog."

too funny. My wife had a chihuahua/daschhund "chiweenie" when I married her. Love the little bugger but bought a Belgian Malinois 7 months ago. A crackhead of a dog but awesome all the same. Want to get into IPO or schutzhund with him.

Had a few attacks myself. one cat taken after being spayed cone and all. Then my helmet was attacked while walking in area J in the middle of the night on FT. Bragg during land navigation.

Not much you can do but keep it on leash.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

What you do is up to you, but you are right to be concerned. A big hawk got into a litter of my neighbor's squirrel dogs. An owl would be just as bad or worse.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I have been looking for options but there really isn't much I can do from the looks of it. I guess I will just make sure the wife doesn't take the dog on a walk without me for now and hope that I don't see him again.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I have seen this before. I hate to be the one to tell you but once an owl has targeted a dog it never forgets. Could be tomorrow, could be three years. That dog is doomed.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Kill or be Killed? Is the state you live in a stand your ground state? Really, call your wildlife/ game warden and ask what to do and let them direct you...............or sh......never mind!
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I personally would love an owl on my property - but I see your dilemma. My suggestion - gets some rodents loaded up with rat poison, and make them easy prey for this owl. Pet stores that cater to reptile owners will usually have live mice - well there is always a gerbil or two at local pet stores or even a bunny...you get my point.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

just carry some tennis balls, and throw em at the owl whenever he shows up. or a wrist rocket with paintballs. something that the winged bastard will understand clearly.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I run into a lot of owls when I'm out hunting doves. They're no joke and the ones around here are HUGE! 99% of the time I only see them when I get too close and they fly off. Pretty amazing critters and apex predators to boot. I would bet that if the owl is hungry enough, it's going to take your dog regardless of how close you are too it or what you throw at it. They usually scare the shit out of me because they don't move until your only a few feet away.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Do yourself a favor and let the owl take the little rat so you have an excuse to get a real dog.
</div></div>



I knew I would LOVE Alaska when I first got here. I was reading the paper where this lady let her rat (ok maltese, bows and all) out of the camper and it made it about ten feet from the door before an eagle snatched it up.
Sorry, HATE yappy little dogs.

I wouldnt fuck with the owl, he is where he belongs.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I had 2 large screetch owls when my dogs were puppies. They were in the trees for about 2 days and i finally got a very bright spot light and stuck it on them untill one of them finally flew off. I never saw either of them again....Might be worth a try.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

That sounds like a tough problem. Owls are cunning and efficient killers. As are coyotes. Small dogs are easy prey for other animals in the food chain.

I regularly see coyotes around my place (even here in the 'burbs), and one evening I saw 5-6 great horned owls in the trees around my house. The dogs weren't too happy that they were there, but my dogs are an 85lb German Shepherd / Akita mix, and a 70lb Great Pyrenees / Golden Retriever mix. They aren't really on the menu for owls, and they've run coyotes out of here in the past (the Pyrenees-mutt in particular is very protective of her turf).

Unfortunately I don't think very many of us have legal ideas for dealing with this problem.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bondoscustomz1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kill or be Killed? Is the state you live in a stand your ground state? Really, call your wildlife/ game warden and ask what to do and let them direct you...............or sh......never mind!</div></div>

I am going to call today and see what he says, then go from there.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I could say get a real dog(because they're really better), but that's already been said, but since you're a member I will help.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CROWS</span></span>

Owls hate them. Crows hate them back. Thing is that there are more crows than owls. That's a good thing. For you.

You want the crows around because they're less likely to take your dog as a snack. They do look like rats. I bet the only reason the owl didn't grab him, was because he never saw a barking rat before.

Buy an owl decoy and a crow decoy. Take the owl, and stand it upright. Take the crow and tip it over in front of the owl. Make sure the owl is properly secured.

Leave it alone until the gang war between the crows and owls starts.

The crows should chase every owl away, within a week I guess, just by larger numbers.

Remove the decoys when done. Repeat if necessary.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArmaHeavy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I could say get a real dog(because they're really better), but that's already been said, but since you're a member I will help.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CROWS</span></span>

Owls hate them. Crows hate them back. Thing is that there are more crows than owls. That's a good thing. For you.

You want the crows around because they're less likely to take your dog as a snack. They do look like rats. I bet the only reason the owl didn't grab him, was because he never saw a barking rat before.

Buy an owl decoy and a crow decoy. Take the owl, and stand it upright. Take the crow and tip it over in front of the owl. Make sure the owl is properly secured.

Leave it alone until the gang war between the crows and owls starts.

The crows should chase every owl away, within a week I guess, just by larger numbers.

Remove the decoys when done. Repeat if necessary. </div></div>
Hilarious!
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Years ago an owl had a nest on our state capitol building. People were forced to leave it alone. Years pass and the outside of the building was up for renovation. People carefully climbed up to the nest to temporarily move it. This is what they found inside the nest. A number of pet collars with tags. The animal lovers didn't know what to say. In their effort to leave the owl alone they set their own pets up for failure.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bradu</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bondoscustomz1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Kill or be Killed? Is the state you live in a stand your ground state? Really, call your wildlife/ game warden and ask what to do and let them direct you...............or sh......never mind!</div></div>

I am going to call today and see what he says, then go from there. </div></div>

Whatever you do, don't poison the thing. That's just fucked up. It's an apex predator, if it has to die, then let it die with dignity....
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Owls are often protected species and it is <span style="text-decoration: underline">illegal</span> to kill them.

F#@k the Chihuahua owls are a far more majestic and exquisite creature.

Owls are great they helped control rodents like mice etc.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

BAck to the spotlight suggestions earlier.....

I'm not one who regrets killing critters that need it, BUT..... I've never been in a situation where an OWL was considered a 'nuisance'. So let me ask you this:

What if it were a Bald Eagle? Same type of Apex predator. Same type of 'status' (shall we say?) in the world. How would one deal with an Eagle?

If it's there regularly, I'd be more apt to get it 'snacks' such as feeder-mice from the pet-shop and whatnot. But I'm the type who'd rather have an Owl or an Eagle as a 'friend' than an entree.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArmaHeavy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I could say get a real dog(because they're really better), but that's already been said, but since you're a member I will help.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CROWS</span></span>

Owls hate them. Crows hate them back. Thing is that there are more crows than owls. That's a good thing. For you.

You want the crows around because they're less likely to take your dog as a snack. They do look like rats. I bet the only reason the owl didn't grab him, was because he never saw a barking rat before.

Buy an owl decoy and a crow decoy. Take the owl, and stand it upright. Take the crow and tip it over in front of the owl. Make sure the owl is properly secured.

Leave it alone until the gang war between the crows and owls starts.

The crows should chase every owl away, within a week I guess, just by larger numbers.

Remove the decoys when done. Repeat if necessary. </div></div>

This is a very good idea. To help speed things up, get a Fox Pro with crow calls on it. Fire it up when the owl comes around, he'll haul ass just at the sound of crows. If that doesn't work leave it on and call in the real deal, they'll attack and run him off.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArmaHeavy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I could say get a real dog(because they're really better), but that's already been said, but since you're a member I will help.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CROWS</span></span>

Owls hate them. Crows hate them back. Thing is that there are more crows than owls. That's a good thing. For you.

You want the crows around because they're less likely to take your dog as a snack. They do look like rats. I bet the only reason the owl didn't grab him, was because he never saw a barking rat before.

Buy an owl decoy and a crow decoy. Take the owl, and stand it upright. Take the crow and tip it over in front of the owl. Make sure the owl is properly secured.

Leave it alone until the gang war between the crows and owls starts.

The crows should chase every owl away, within a week I guess, just by larger numbers.

Remove the decoys when done. Repeat if necessary. </div></div>

This!!!! but I know them as dumpster chickens or ravens.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

This wouldn't help you on a walk, but you already got adequate advise about that.
However if you are having predators or larger nuisance birds in your chicken area, or over your porch, I learned a trick at a restaurant that really works.
String 20 lb fishing line across areas to be denied. Up high enough to be out of normal eye view, and criss-crossed randomly.
The line is small enough to not catch your eye or interfere with the view, but the birds HATE to get tangled, and soon learn to avoid it. This was at a restaurant that had a back porch over the bay, and the trick kept out ravens, pigeons, and gulls very effectively. I don't know how well it works for small birds like sparrows, but a single line kept the robins and swallows from crapping up my balcony, and from nesting in the rafters.
Funny thing, I went to that restaurant 4 times before I ever noticed the lines.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

The fishing line works! I live near the beaches in Alabama , all of the condos use this method around all if the swimming pools, and hot tubs, grilling areas. Maybe you can call the city , or township, and let your problem be known. Maybe they can help in some way.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dkealty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Owls are often protected species and it is <span style="text-decoration: underline">illegal</span> to kill them.

F#@k the Chihuahua owls are a far more majestic and exquisite creature.

Owls are great they helped control rodents like mice etc.
</div></div>

Maybe in the wimpy state you're from... here, they're fair game with a bag limit of 25 a day. good eating too from what my buddies say.

The Raven idea will probably do the trick, and doesn't take a lot of hours climbing trees and tying fish line.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

It's just looking for food. Coming that close to you must mean there's not too much food available there. Pretty sure it will move on in hopes of finding better hunting grounds
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ssgp2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Make a gillie suit for the dog...
wink.gif
</div></div>

Ghillie dog... you can't eat what you can't see. Personally, I am imagining the emergence of a new market for commercial ghillie suits.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dkealty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Owls are often protected species and it is <span style="text-decoration: underline">illegal</span> to kill them.

F#@k the Chihuahua owls are a far more majestic and exquisite creature.

Owls are great they helped control rodents like mice etc.
</div></div>

The dog is part of the family so fuck you.

I like the idea of the crows and crow call, I forgot all about crows fucking with owls. When I was a kid we used an owl decoy to get crows to get within shooting distance and it worked great.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

It is illegal to kill owls. So just catch him and clip his beak and claws and let the dog finish him off.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dkealty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Owls are often protected species and it is <span style="text-decoration: underline">illegal</span> to kill them.

F#@k the Chihuahua owls are a far more majestic and exquisite creature.

Owls are great they helped control rodents like mice etc.
</div></div>

Agreed. Unreal Henry said it best. Dog 0 Owl 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VyQipO4miw



 
Re: owl stalking my dog

I hear you there, she's our baby and I will do my best to protect her!
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bradu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I hear you there, she's our baby and I will do my best to protect her! </div></div>

Everybody is on your side. We're just having a little fun is all. Best thing to do is preventative measures like you are suggesting. For some reason the owl has more civil rights than a domestic dog. If it was me I would hatch a plan that would be permanent in nature. The owl would be found where it fell and I don't know nothing. Shit happens. But it doesn't happen to my dog. Like Unreal Henry suggests. The owl now knows about a food source and where it is located. My story about the owl at the state capitol is no bullshit.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Owls are incredible predators. My grandfather once motioned me over as I was walking back in from a morning bowhunt in his woods; there were 52 dead chickens and ducks in and around his coop. Sitting in the center of the coop on a roots was a great horned owl. He wanted me to wrap it in a burlap sack and throw it in a rabbit cage so he could take it to the DNR. So I held the sack in front of the bird, and it just looked at me calmly. Easy, it appeared.

Until I wrapped the sack around it. Boy did that bird get pissed.

It reached up and grabbed my index finger with its foot. The talons didn't get me but the grip was incredible; my finger was bruised for days. I danced around the coop like a little girl, shaking the bird upside-down over the rabbit cage until it finally fell in.

I'm told the DNR decided to kill it as once they get a taste for domestic fowl, they will be ruthless in searching out those opportunities and cannot be broken from it.

Same probably applies to dogs.

One thing that really pisses me off about city people/environmentalists is that they are all about dictating what goes on with wildlife away from where they live, but when an owl/coyote/fox/cougar shows up and threatens their cat or little drop-kick dog they want it DEAD DEAD DEAD.

If the little dog is a part of your family, DO YOUR PART and keep it on a short leash and both eyes open. Leave the owl alone.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

An owl won't mess with a velociraptor...

24mw4lk.jpg
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

If the owl reappeared, I would use an air rifle. If the owl was wounded, it would probably not come back (just a guess). If it died, problem would be solved as long as the air rifle shooter was quiet about it.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

The fishing line really works. I did this to a friend’s yard and most of the birds stay away now.

I like the spotlight idea. I would think a bright enough light would make them go away. A friend had a 15milion candle power spot light and it made me sick when he shined it on me from about 40 to 50 feet away.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Buy yourself a six pack of good beer, sip on it till dark and shoot the fuckin thing with an air rifle.
They may look huge, but their all head and talons, a really big one maybe weighs 5 lbs. Kitchen trash bag for a coffin to the local landfill.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Sounds like you can get fairly close. I would like to offer the services of my three boys and their airsoft guns. Turn them loose and all of the critters in town will be scurrying for cover. My boys like to dress in camo as special forces. They will quietly stalk him and take him out. If the owl truly won't forget like Unreal Henry said, then the pain should keep him away. If airsoft is not legal, then they can use their Rambo Knives with the compass on the end. The owl won't know what hit him until it is to late.

If not that then bait it to come inside the house. When it comes in you can shoot it and say you felt your life was endangered.

On a serious note I would find some discreet way to shoot the bastard with a 22. I have heard a baby bottle nipple will silence it for the first shot. Never tried it myself. A muzzle out the window and back in quick would be hard to prove. Especially in the dark. I mean seriously, what are they going to do? Get a warrant to search your home and perform a ballistic test to find out who's gun shot a stupid bird majestic or not. Maybe they will. Maybe I underestimate how far they would investigate. I live in the country so I do just about what I want with invading critters. Chances are nobody will even hear or realize what they heard if you use a 22. If they do hear it, play dumb and act like you heard the shot come from the alley.

More than likely the owl is stalking other dogs besides yours in the neighborhood.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _RJ_</div><div class="ubbcode-body">An owl won't mess with a velociraptor...

24mw4lk.jpg
</div></div>

Actually owls can see straight through disguises. We all know this ends with "i was just letting him out for a second"
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

Mouse on fishing line with l treble hook attached to the mouse I. A way that doesn't hurt the bait...err, mouse. Eventually, you will get to reel in a flying, pissed off fish/owl.
 
Re: owl stalking my dog

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Unknown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mouse on fishing line with l treble hook attached to the mouse I. A way that doesn't hurt the bait...err, mouse. Eventually, you will get to reel in a flying, pissed off fish/owl. </div></div>

I bet this would work.

I once caught an owl while night fishing with a jitter bug! Thing about beat me to death trying to get the hook out of it.