You Can't Eat My Dog!

MamaAndi · Jul 27, 2014

So, in my town we have a growing population of turkey vultures. They can often be seen roosting in huge groups or flying circles overhead in the neighborhoods.

Mostly they don't bother....I don't know how the property owners feel (the ones with the evergreens they roost in) about them but they don't bug us.
Well....tonight we had Stella and Tank outside going potty.....takes less than 10 minutes so we just walk while they go. My daughter pointed out about four turkey vultures, super high up, doing circles. We kept watching as one broke off from the group and started flying lower in tighter circles over the yard. Not long and all four of them were just above the house and they seemed to be moving depending on where Stella was in the yard!

I grabbed her and shut her in the garage and they quickly dispersed. We're they gonna consider her as a snack?! I googled them to see what kind of prey they go after and how much they can carry. Seems to be mostly dead stuff but they will hunt live prey when food is scarce. But they can carry about 10lbs and do carry their food away to eat it. Stella is a very petite frenchie coming in at just under 20lbs.

My goodness....will have to watch her even more closely!

hmy: Lol

mhuinker · Jul 28, 2014

Ohhh, scary!!! Best to keep an eye on her all the time when outside! :fie:

2bullymama · Jul 28, 2014

HOLY CRAP... that is scary!

lkclark · Jul 28, 2014

We have a chicken hawk that flies around our yard and checks out Bear sometimes. He'll swoop down and change his mind. At nearly 13 pounds it wouldn't be a pleasant flight home. Lol.

Julie Stevenson · Jul 28, 2014

No more unsupervised backyard outings. YIKES!!!!

winginit66 · Jul 28, 2014

davidh · Jul 28, 2014

That is a scary thing, to think they would try to take your baby.

Calle Roo · Jul 29, 2014

I know no one wants to think about death of another creature, but I do believe some counties allow a limit and you can capture and/or kill the creatures that may be putting your pet in immediate danger. If they continue to grow in population you can use netting (as unaesthetically pleasing as it is) and cover your backyard or even a portion where there dogs are allowed to roam freely. :retreat:

Alice Kable · Jul 29, 2014

Fortunately we have enough road kill around here to keep those turkey vultures well fed. Maybe you need to put a weighted vest on Stella!

MamaAndi · Jul 30, 2014

Luckily they aren't strong enough to lift her entire weight but it's still unnerving to see a flock of turkey vultures circling your dog! LOL
She is well monitored outside, as we don't leave her alone because we do have some dog theft in the area

Tgirl · Aug 1, 2014

Yikes! That's scary! We have coyotes but I never see them. I don't leave the dogs unattended, but someone about 1/4 mile from here had one in their yard chasing their cats a couple weeks ago. We live in the country, and our other neighbors found a dead one in the woods behind my house last year. It was pretty big one too. I'd say 55 pounds.