Quick Answer
Cooper’s hawks are known to prey on small animals like squirrels, rabbits, mice and even small birds. There have been some rare cases of them attacking very small dogs, but this is not common. Cooper’s hawks prefer to hunt smaller prey that is easier to catch and kill. Overall, small dogs are generally safe from these birds, but supervision is recommended when small pets are outside, especially around bird nesting areas.
Do Cooper’s Hawks Attack Small Dogs?
Cooper’s hawks are medium-sized birds of prey that are found throughout most of North America. They are skilled hunters that prey predominantly on small birds and mammals. Their diet typically consists of animals like songbirds, pigeons, doves, squirrels, chipmunks, mice and rabbits.
While Cooper’s hawks pose little threat to humans, there have been some rare reports of them attacking very small dogs and cats. This seems to happen most often when the hawk mistakes a small pet like a Chihuahua for its normal prey items. The vast majority of documented cases involve dogs under 10 pounds in size. Additionally, attacks are more likely to happen in yards where Cooper’s hawks have an active nest nearby.
However, it is important to note that such incidents are extremely uncommon. Cooper’s hawks are not known to actively hunt domestic dogs and cats for food. These birds prefer to go after wild prey that is much smaller in size compared to even a tiny pet dog. They simply do not view dogs as normal food sources. Most small dogs and cats coexist with Cooper’s hawks without any issues.
Risk Factors for Pet Attacks
While overall risk is low, there are a few factors that may make a small dog or cat more vulnerable to an attack by a Cooper’s hawk:
- Size – Dogs under 10 pounds and cats under 5 pounds are at greatest risk.
- Unsupervised backyard access – Pets left alone outside can be vulnerable.
- Presence of hawk nests nearby – Nesting hawks are highly territorial.
- Motionless small pets – Lap dogs that are still can resemble prey.
- High prey drive in hawk – Some hawks are more aggressive hunters.
Taking steps to accompany small pets outdoors, scare aggressive hawks away from the yard, and provide shelter for pets can help reduce any minimal risks.
Do Cooper’s Hawks View Dogs as Prey?
Cooper’s hawks have very specific prey preferences and hunting behaviors that are tailored towards capturing small birds and mammals. Unlike larger raptors designed to hunt bigger prey, Cooper’s hawks are simply not adapted to regularly hunt animals the size of domestic dogs.
Several key factors prevent dogs from registering as normal prey for Cooper’s hawks:
- Size – Even small dogs and puppies are much larger than the rodents, rabbits, and birds these hawks usually hunt. Their talons and beaks are designed for smaller animals.
- Power – A dog’s strength and agility make them difficult for a hawk to overpower. Hawks prefer weaker prey that’s easy to catch and kill.
- Awareness – Dogs’ alert nature and barking/aggression act as a deterrent compared to more docile prey.
- Availability – With an abundance of natural prey everywhere, hawks have no reason to expend energy hunting domestic dogs.
- Taste – Dogs are not a normal food source, so hawks likely do not recognize them as prey in the way they immediately recognize a rabbit or squirrel.
Unless they mistake a very small, still dog for an acceptable prey animal, most Cooper’s hawks will simply ignore dogs and avoid confrontation.
Do Cooper’s Hawks Eat Dogs Once Attacked?
In the rare event that a Cooper’s hawk does attack a small dog, they do not usually proceed to eat the dog. There are a few reasons why:
- The size of even a small dog exceeds what a Cooper’s hawk can easily carry and feed on.
- The primary motivation is to drive the intruding “predator” away from the nest rather than to hunt it for food.
- Dogs have protective fur that hawks are not adapted to penetrate with their talons and beak.
- The taste, smell and texture of a dog is unfamiliar compared to their normal prey.
- There is an abundance of easier and tastier prey to eat like rabbits, squirrels and birds.
In most dog attack cases, the hawk’s goal is simply to deliver warning blows that scare the pet away rather than seriously injure or kill it. They do not have an interest in actually consuming it.
How to Keep Small Dogs Safe
Despite the rarity of hawk attacks on dogs, owners of small pets should take some basic precautions:
- Never leave tiny dogs outside unattended, especially not small puppies.
- Install an outdoor dog kennel with a protective top to provide shelter.
- Supervise outdoor time and leash walk very small dogs.
- Scare hawks away from your yard with loud noises and garden sprayers.
- Avoid areas with nesting Cooper’s hawks if possible.
- Keep cats indoors as much as possible.
- Spray small dogs with anti-predator repellents designed for birds.
Following these tips should minimize any minimal risks and help co-exist safely with Cooper’s hawks.
Key Takeaways
- Cooper’s hawks prey predominantly on small mammals and birds – not dogs.
- Attacks on dogs are extremely rare and involve primarily tiny dogs under 10 lbs.
- Hawks do not view dogs as normal prey and will usually avoid confrontation.
- Risk can be reduced by supervising small pets outdoors and securing them in enclosures.
- Overall, small dogs have minimal risk as long as basic precautions are followed.
Conclusion
While Cooper’s hawks are formidable hunters of small birds and mammals, domestic dogs are generally far outside of their typical prey range. Cases of hawks attacking tiny dogs are rare events likely related to defending nest sites rather than attempts to hunt dogs for food. Dog owners can take reasonable steps to accompany and protect their small pets when outdoors. However, the vast majority of pet dogs have very minimal risk of becoming prey for these hawks as long as they are properly supervised. With some basic vigilance, even the smallest dogs can safely co-exist with Cooper’s hawks in shared environments.
