It’s a news headline that can send a chill up the backs of pet owners. A small family pet is outside when a bird of prey swoops down and attacks.
In Colorado, an eagle preyed on a Pomeranian while it was in the family’s fenced-in yard. In Canada, home security cameras captured a Yorkie puppy escaping an eagle’s grip. And in a Philadelphia public park, a hawk came up behind a small dog with its talons extended.
These stories can prompt a pet owner to fear for their animal’s safety. Ornithologists say the threat is real but highly unlikely, and there are precautions pet parents can take to limit the risk.
