A bird expert out of Sudbury believes owls, especially a northern hawk owl which was shown in the story, would not be responsible for snatching a small dog from downtown North Bay.
See related story: Giant bird attacking pets in North Bay?
“Northern hawk owls are the size of American crows and feed on mice,” explained Chris Blomme, Animal Biologist at Laurentian University as well as an executive member of the Sudbury Ornithological Society.
“There are only two species of birds capable of physically carrying the weight of the hypothetical small black dog that is intact,” added Blomme.
“In all likelihood, a bald eagle was the bird in question, however, the rare golden eagle is also possible. Eagles come in different plumages depending on their age, so an immature bald eagle would not have a white head or tail.
“An immature bald eagle has a wingspan of up to a meter and a half or more, within the size described by the witness."
Bald eagles have been sighted in the North Bay area as recently as late November.
Blomme adds that great horned owls hunt at night and the large owl would have to eat their prey at the site of the kill.
“Within the owl group, only the great horned owl has the capacity due to its weight and talons, to kill a very small dog and it would not be able to carry the prey any distance," he stated.
“Owls do not target dogs as a common prey source. Great horned owls hunt snowshoe hares, mice and other animals in that size group.”
