The term ‘birds of prey’ can sound pretty intimidating. Even more intimidating is the word ‘raptor,’ which is the other common way to describe predatory birds. You’ll be glad to hear velociraptors are not among the Raleigh Durham area’s list of raptors, though. A few you may see, though, are:

• Eagles
• Kites
• Hawks
• Owls
• Vultures
• Falcons

There are 28 species total of birds of prey in North Carolina. These species are designed to kill mostly mice, rabbits, and other small mammals by using their sharp talons. So, many wonder, could those talons and beaks be used to hurt people and their pets?

Pet Safety

It’d be nice to say that all of your pets are completely safe from raptors, but sadly that’s not the case. There are frequently reports of small pets being attacked and killed by birds of prey. Raptors feed off of animals as large as bear cubs, so in theory, an outdoor cat or small dog could appear like an attractive meal. Pet rabbits and rodents that are kept outdoors should never be let out of their cages because they are even more at risk.

Larger animals, like big dogs, are unlikely to be killed because they would be too much trouble for most raptors. Outdoor cats, on the other hand, are more at risk. They are not a likely target because cats are larger than the usual rodent or rabbit-sized meal, but it does occasionally happen that a hungry bird of prey will attack.

But Do They Attack People?

Even more frightening is the idea of an eagle swooping down and carrying off an infant or toddler. Despite a few viral videos, this is not at all common. Most of those videos ended up being hoaxes, anyway.

A journalist for Hot Air was curious if there are any NON hoax accounts of birds carrying off children, though. She only found a handful of examples, but some pretty scary examples do exist. It doesn’t seem like birds of prey attack children more than adults since there are examples of each. Adults would be more likely to be able to fend off an attack, though. Keep in mind, these attacks are an extreme rarity, and usually lead to only minor injuries.

Critter Control Can Help Remove Birds of Prey

If there are large raptors on your property, though, you may still feel uncomfortable having them around. There are strict federal laws around moving or harming almost any species of birds, so it will be important to call in the experts. It can also increase the likelihood of an attack if you attempt to remove a nest yourself. Critter Control of the Triangle is a Raleigh Durham bird removal expert and can assist if you have large birds of prey causing concern. We can be reached at 919.382.0651 and cover the entire Triangle, Raleigh, Durham and Wake County areas.