Holy smokes, that’s a big target for a little ol’ house cat
Usually cats only go for prey much smaller than themselves. Owls are generally a large bird, this one is a species that is fairly large. It is one that probably preys on cats a bit itself.
So, maybe its payback?
Either way, it’s a cat-eat-bird, bird-eat-cat world out there.
Birds, particularly smaller song birds have it rough when it comes to house cats. In North America they are solely responsible for millions of deaths each year, one of the single biggest killers of birds in North America.
Birds of prey however, love peoples’ pets. They are easy targets that often times have little to no defense when caught by surprise and are often out in the open for the taking.
This owl had a target in mind, it was actually a bunny that the cat killed just before the owl showed up and decided to try and take it. Yes, this cat is a real killer.
The owl swoops in and the cat doesn’t miss a beat as it jumps up and takes the owl right to the ground.
The grounded bird kicks and fights in defense as it tries to regain its footing. The cat keeps attacking as its owner yells from the step watching the whole incident go down.
That is some crazy, backwards stuff right here. Usually the owl comes out ahead on every interaction. But, this seems to be one badass kitty.
The owl is said to be okay following the fight even after that beating it took.
“Our cat had caught a bunny that an owl also decided it wanted. When the owl took a run at the bunny our cat jumped up and took it down while it was swooping in.
Incidentally….the owl was ok and the bunny got away while all the commotion was going on.”
Owl lives, the bunny lives… these animals are tough.
Bald Eagle Flies Away With House Cat In Minnesota
Watch your pets people…
These airborne predators do not discriminate between animal species, domesticated or wild. All they care about is their next meal.
Sadly, our beloved pets, whether it be small dogs or cats, are generally insanely easy targets for them. The same way one of these flying dinosaurs will swoop down on a rabbits, prairie dogs, and even fish, eagles think nothing of digging their talons into Fluffy, the 2-pound rodent you keep in your purse (sorry, that’s not a dog).
There are many stories of this out there, whether its an owl getting a dog, finding leashes in a nest or in this case an eagle flying with a cat. Hell, in some parts of the world, golden eagles have been known to take a run at small children.
It happens… small pets just look tasty to them. That’s why you should be on guard when in an area with known predators. They are sneaky, they are fast, and by the time you see them, it’s too late.
This video shows how easy they can manhandle a common housecat.
A women is driving filming an eagle sitting in a park.
You know something is off about the situation because an eagle never just sits in a park like its relaxing. There has to be something else going on…
That something else is quickly revealed when the eagle starts flying away. As it takes off a house cat that was in a ball takes shape again so you can tell what the eagle is having for lunch.
It near ripped it into two pieces.
And at first glance you see the eagle, but you don’t really get a feel for its massive size until it flies away, flexing that massive wingspan.
I hate to say it, but I can’t help but feel like it’s a little bit of karma. Outdoor house cats are the biggest killer of song birds in North America and this ones time comes to an end from another bird… seems slightly fitting.
The video comes to us from a fella up in Two Harbors, Minnesota:
“My dog, Keisha and I were driving around taking pictures of wildlife when I saw this Eagle sitting on the ground. He was arguing with two black birds. I decided to take a picture of him. This would be the first picture of an Eagle that I take.
As I started driving closer to him he wasn’t moving. So I decided to take a video of him. I thought him taking off in flight would make a great video. I was shocked. Did not see that coming.
My dog and I just sat there like, what did we just see?”
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Bald Eagles Have Killed Over 50 Lambs In Idaho
Beginning in April, bald eagles started stealing sheep from Rocky Matthews, a rancher near Murtaugh Lake in Idaho.
Last spring, 54 of his lambs have been poached by the birds, including 7 in one day, which were all reportedly killed by one eagle.
“I truly think he was just honing his skills because you don’t kill seven of them out of need.”
Initially, Matthews was unsure of what exactly was killing all of his lambs until he saw a bald eagle attack his flock from the sky. For a moment, he even thought someone was shooting them with pellet guns.
The eagles have been nesting on his ranch for more than 20 years without incident, but that all changed this year.
“They’ve never crossed paths till this year. The damage under the hide is a hundredfold from what you see on the exterior.”
He estimates the loses on those lambs have cost him roughly $7,500. He also hypothesizes the the eagles were drawn to his sheep because colder then usual water temperatures in the lake this time of year could have made fishing more challenging for the birds.
Mr. Matthews has since relocated his flock of sheep further away from the eagles and to an area with more barn cover. Meanwhile, Idaho Fish and Game has directed him to the Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program to explore potential solutions.
Since shooting the birds is not an option as with other livestock menacing predators, moving them was his only option. Eagles are federally protected, and those caught poaching them are potentially subject to up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Hopefully the new location works out for the better, because the current rate of predation is not sustainable for a ranching operation.
“In 45 days, I’ll be out of sheep.”
The neighboring state of Wyoming recently approved a plan to relocate a number of golden eagles with a similar habit of preying on sheep, but there is no indication that option is being explored in this instance.
