# Should I Be Worried About Hawks Killing My Dogs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687 "2008-02-22T04:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/1 "2008-02-22T04:10:36Z")
At the end of January I moved to a new house. Everything is quite nice (retarded REALTORS aside, of course), and last Monday I had my fence put in the back yard. So, the doggies can run free. When I first checked out the place I saw some hawks circling waaaaay up high an generally over the back yard. According to a couple of the guys I work with they’re most likely red-tailed hawks - you see them all over Mississippi. At least I do, but I do lots of driving for work. Anyways, my two little dogs are small, about 12-13 pounds each. They’re not exactly rabbits, but to a hawk from way up I could see them looking a bit like a meal. Should I be concerned? I’ve seen in the front yard a large nest that may or may not belong to them (obviously I’d see what was taking off from there before messing with it) - is its proximity anything to be concerned about? Anyone have any idea how worried I should be? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/2 "2008-02-22T04:15:26Z")
It’s very unlikely with a bird the size of a Red-tail. While it is not impossible, they are not likely to even try for anything that big. Now, if you had Golden Eagles hanging around there would be more of a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/3 "2008-02-22T04:17:05Z")
I agree, a red-tail isn’t going to take on a 13 lbs dog, it’s just way too big for it. ---
**Author:** ![hotcoldhot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58f4c7/32.png) [@hotcoldhot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotcoldhot)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/4 "2008-02-22T04:22:39Z")
I’ve seen hawks take small dogs, in my youth in Texas. I’ve even seem them injure them about up to 10 pounds. The thing is unlike cats, the dogs keep to the open. I’ve never seen a hawk take a cat because cats, when they are out, keep to the bushes and undergrowth. The small dogs run around and leave themselves as open targets. I’ve seen a hawk swoop down before it realizes it’s too big and the dog has no fear of the hawk so the hawk will wound it. Little hawks do this to big roosters. Foxes also will attack little dogs and they are very clever about fencing. A good sized rooster can keep a fox at bay, and foxes don’t mess with cats because they fight back. I think it’s not the size it’s just these tiny breeds of dogs they have now, may be bread to be small but they don’t have the fear put in them. They still think of themselves as big dogs. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/5 "2008-02-22T04:25:02Z")
[Eagles are ambitious!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXQE7C1CPWM) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/6 "2008-02-22T04:27:54Z")
[Still pics of Eagles taking small wolves & foxes.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUwyrRAZDzA&NR=1) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/7 "2008-02-22T04:46:21Z")
If the worse does come to pass, you might consider adopting a [dog from this rescue group.](http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/adoption%20experience-meeting%20our%20herd%20of%20gentle%20giants.htm#experience1) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/8 "2008-02-22T04:59:12Z")
Falconers reckon that a red-tailed hawk is well suited to squirrels and rabbits, though tough examples can be quite challenging. As the biggest of these are probably less than a third the weight of your dogs, I’d say your red-tailed hawks are not likely to be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/9 "2008-02-22T04:59:45Z")
Clearly the only solution to your problem is mutant, hyperviolent attack eagles that thrive on the blood of Red Tail eagles. I see no way that will end badly. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/10 "2008-02-22T05:14:27Z")
[QUOTE=ForumBot] Clearly the only solution to your problem is mutant, hyperviolent attack eagles [/QUOTE] Perhaps a version of [Haast’s eagle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haast's_Eagle): > [@](#): > > Haast’s Eagle (Harpagornis moorei), was a massive, now extinct eagle that once lived on the South Island of New Zealand. Also known as the Harpagornis Eagle, it was the largest eagle to have ever lived… > Female Haast’s Eagles weighed 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb) ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/11 "2008-02-22T05:27:20Z")
I had this really disturbing sense of deja vu until I realized we had a [recent thread just like this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=450668). I’m just relieved I’m not going crazy! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/12 "2008-02-22T05:50:43Z")
FWIW, I lived in MS my entire live and had dogs that lived outside the entire time. Of Course they were collies too, so that makes a difference. Plus we lived in the woods. I’m guessing you probably live somewhere in one of the more open areas of the state? ---
**Author:** ![brownsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@brownsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/13 "2008-02-22T06:04:37Z")
[QUOTE=hotcoldhot] I’ve seen hawks take small dogs, in my youth in Texas. I’ve even seem them injure them about up to 10 pounds. The thing is unlike cats, the dogs keep to the open. I’ve never seen a hawk take a cat because cats, when they are out, keep to the bushes and undergrowth.. [/QUOTE] This isn’t true. I have nine indoor cats, and I’ve adopted most of them right from my backyard (I have a crazy neighbor who keeps bringing home strays and feeding them, while leaving them free to roam. The discussion of _my_ craziness is for another thread). The cats I adopted were obviously socialized at a young age to humans, because they practically begged to come inside. The ones that ignore me are feral, and I see them frequently sitting and grooming in open spaces for long periods of time. And there are lots of red-tailed hawks around here. Just last summer, I watched one snatch a chipmunk off of the roof of my garage. It was amazing, but sad. Oh well, everyone’s gotta eat. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/14 "2008-02-22T12:23:24Z")
A hawk isn’t likely to drop out of the sky and attack the dogs. They might attack your dog if it is attacked first. I also think a pair would go after the dog if they went near the fledglings in a nest. The dog would probably live, but you might have to call it one eye. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/15 "2008-02-22T13:28:40Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] I also think a pair would go after the dog if they went near the fledglings in a nest. [/QUOTE] This would be considered normal behavior for Goshawks (though not in pairs), but not for Red-tailed hawks. And since the nest is usually well up in a sizeable tree, the chance of a dog getting near enough even to be considered threatening is low. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/16 "2008-02-22T13:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=wevets] I had this really disturbing sense of deja vu until I realized we had a [recent thread just like this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=450668). I’m just relieved I’m not going crazy! 🙂 [/QUOTE] Or [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403453&highlight=hawks) from a little longer back. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/17 "2008-02-22T14:32:50Z")
[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe] FWIW, I lived in MS my entire live and had dogs that lived outside the entire time. Of Course they were collies too, so that makes a difference. Plus we lived in the woods. I’m guessing you probably live somewhere in one of the more open areas of the state? [/QUOTE] Pretty much downtown Brandon. Thing is, my back yard is bounded by the house and then woods on three sides. So, it’s basically a patch of woods with an open area (ie. my yard) in the middle. Of course, this thread sounds good (and who doesn’t want to breed hyperaggressive attack eagles?), but my next concern is that it’s actually a red-tailed hawk. They don’t look particularly red to me. These things are the ones that you see circling EVERYWHERE in Mississippi and you see on the phone lines next to pretty much any highway. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/18 "2008-02-23T14:17:56Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] my next concern is that it’s actually a red-tailed hawk. They don’t look particularly red to me. These things are the ones that you see circling EVERYWHERE in Mississippi [/QUOTE] The only red is a rusty color on the upper side of the tail - and this isn’t found until the bird is two years old. But Red-tailed hawks are about the most common hawk in the area you describe. And no other common raptor represents much of a threat to dogs like yours, either. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/19 "2008-02-23T14:20:29Z")
Plenty of hawks where I live. My two Jack Russells spend a lot of time outside. I’m not a bit worried. 12-15 pounds is a lot for a hawk to carry away. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-be-worried-about-hawks-killing-my-dogs/438687/20 "2008-02-23T14:34:00Z")
Perhaps they were buzzards circling. Take good care of your pups and there shouldn’t be a problem. 😉