Vet's view of owl attacks

I would agree with the vets treating the injured cat that the attack was most likely to have been by an Eagle owl.

If the smaller long eared, tawny or barn owls were the perpetrators, such attacks would have been far more common particularly during long periods of cold snowy weather. In addition they are far more widespread.

Eagle owls are known to have escaped and bred in the Yorkshire Dales where they have a reputation of attacking small dogs and taking lambs at lambing time.

Many are bred in captivity but will in some cases decide to abandon the handler and establish in the wild. There is still controversy as to whether the Yorkshire birds are genuine wild birds arriving from the continent or escapes.

Certainly it is a timely warning for us to make sure the young lambs are housed at dusk.

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