Dog Attacked By Hawk in Yorkshire

[Farplace]

This link is from the BBC news website today.
Doesn't say exactly when it was, or what sort of hawk it was believed to be.

[RoyW]

I would wonder whether an escaped falconers bird was involved in this case, especially as the story seems to suggest that the bird tried to follow the Chihuahua into the house.

[Wild-Woman]

Can't believe this would've been a wild bird of prey, especially the going after the dog in the house. Hand reared and not frightened of humans perhaps. Otherwise, very puzzling.

[aeshna5]

Exactly my thoughts! Given the lack of fear of the pensioner + that the bird of prey entered the house makes me think a falconry bird, possibly escaped + hungry, was the culprit. Maybe a Harris Hawk as these seem to escape with some regularity + in the wild regularly take small mammals as well as birds.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Exactly my thoughts! Given the lack of fear of the pensioner + that the bird of prey entered the house makes me think a falconry bird, possibly escaped + hungry, was the culprit. Maybe a Harris Hawk as these seem to escape with some regularity + in the wild regularly take small mammals as well as birds.

Harris hawk was my first thought for the reasons you state, they excape a lot and they hunt mammals often along or just above ground level, often running or hopping after their prey.

[AfternoonLemon]

Am I the only one to cast doubt on this woman's version of events then? I'm finding it hard to believe it's not exaggerated at least.

[the poacher]

yes yes yes,another one for the tabloids,i wish someone ,something,
break into my house and steel away my hoss ,my hamster,my,my,im lost for words, this great big bird,ate my cat,and my dog,if only i had my camera,

i seen the loch ness monster
,ere we go again

[the poacher]

what is the matter with the British public,are you so nieve,there be dragons
with a clench fist.

[faz]

This is not an uncommon event it’s most likely a Harris hawk although it may well be a large owl. Any domestic pet up to the size of a rabbit is fair game to a harries including dogs up to the size of a westi. As the BOP followed it in to the house I would say a lost Harris hawk as in the wild they will pursue prey in to thick vegetation /cave etc. There was a case 4 years ago in the uk cant remember where now of a EEO taking a Yorkshire terrier in a urban street

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by AfternoonLemon

Am I the only one to cast doubt on this woman's version of events then? I'm finding it hard to believe it's not exaggerated at least.

I would be very surprised if the story hasn't been exaggerated, but the basic story line, that a(n escaped falconers) hawk attacked a small "dog" and had to be "fought off", is very easy to believe.
Personally I find it more likely that the basic story is true, than the alternative possibility that the entire story has been made up.