Quick Answer
Yes, hawks can and do eat pets, especially small pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and small birds. Larger hawks are capable of attacking and eating cats and small dogs. Protecting pets from hawks involves keeping them indoors or supervised when outside.
Do hawks attack pets?
Hawks are carnivorous birds of prey that hunt and consume small animals like rodents, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. This makes many common household pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and small birds vulnerable to hawk attacks. Larger hawks can also prey on slightly bigger animals like cats and small dogs.
Some specific examples of hawks that prey on pets:
- Red-tailed hawks – Capable of preying on small pets up to the size of cats and small dogs
- Cooper’s hawks – Eat mostly birds but can attack pets like rats and cats
- Sharp-shinned hawks – Specialize in hunting small birds but also take mice, rats, chipmunks
- Northern goshawks – Eat birds, rabbits, squirrels, but have attacked cats and small dogs
- Red-shouldered hawks – Hunt mice, voles, rabbits, snakes, lizards, amphibians, small birds
So while hawks mainly go after wild prey, many pet animals fall within the size range of what various hawk species hunt and eat. Domestic pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, parakeets, rats, and mice are well within the grasp of most hawk species.
Do hawks eat cats?
Hawks can occasionally prey on house cats, though cats are not a main food source. Larger hawks are certainly capable of killing and eating cats if given the opportunity. There are documented cases of red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, and other raptors attacking and eating domestic cats, especially smaller or juvenile cats.
Cats that spend time outdoors unattended or in areas with active raptor populations may be vulnerable. Hawks strike cats by swooping down and digging their talons into the cat’s body, then carrying or dragging the cat away if possible. A human-sized red-tailed hawk can exert over 300 psi of grip pressure, easily enough to crush a cat’s skull or spine.
However, cats are also fast, agile, and equipped with claws and teeth for defense. So they are not easy prey, and hawks may look for easier victims. But pet cats outside are still at some risk of hawk attacks.
Do hawks eat small dogs?
Small dog breeds are also potential prey for large hawk species like red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, and great horned owls. Cases of pet dogs under 20 pounds being attacked by hawks have been documented over the years.
Small dogs like Chihuahuas, toy poodles, pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers, Maltese, and papillons can be targeted if outdoors unattended. Like cats, small dogs have speed and agility on their side, as well as loud barking that can startle a hawk. But hawks have instincts to attack and carry off small prey animals.
There are examples of red-tailed hawks preying on pint-sized dogs. A 5 pound Maltese was reportedly carried off by a red-tailed hawk in Chicago. A chihuahua was attacked by a great horned owl in Alberta, Canada. These cases demonstrate hawks will eat small dogs if given the opportunity.
How to protect pets from hawks
To reduce the risk of hawks preying on pets, the best approach is to keep smaller pets indoors or attend to them anytime they are outside. Larger pets like cats and small dogs should also be supervised and not left to roam freely. Other tips include:
- Keep pets in an enclosed patio or yard rather than roaming free
- Stay within several feet of pets when outside with them
- Avoid areas where hawks are known to frequent
- Use deterrents like shiny ribbons or wind chimes to scare hawks away
- Keep pets inside at dawn and dusk when hawks are most active hunting
While hawks play an important role in the ecosystem, pet owners need to be vigilant protect their cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and other beloved family animals. Supervised time outdoors and deterrent devices can minimize risks.
How often do hawks attack pets?
There are no definitive statistics on how often hawks attack pets each year. Given the number of pet cats and small dogs compared to the much smaller hawk population, attacks are likely relatively rare.
However, hawks are opportunistic hunters that will go after easy prey. Pets left unattended outdoors, especially smaller animals like guinea pigs, rats, chihuahuas and cats, can be tempting targets.
Areas with higher hawk populations likely see more attacks on pets as hawks have more frequent exposure to potential prey animals like backyard chickens, rabbits, and unattended cats and small dogs. Rural areas and communities near woodlands and wetlands tend to have more hawk activity.
While hawk attacks are not an everyday occurrence, they do happen with some regularity where hawks overlap with human communities. So pet owners need to be cautious and not assume their beloved cat or lap dog is automatically safe from aerial predators.
Which hawk species are most likely to attack pets?
The hawk species most likely to prey on pets in North America include:
| Hawk | Wingspan | Prey |
|---|---|---|
| Red-tailed hawk | 4.5 feet | Rodents, rabbits; capable of attacking cats, small dogs |
| Cooper’s hawk | 2 feet | Mainly birds; also mice, rats, small pets |
| Sharp-shinned hawk | 1.5 feet | Small birds, mice, chipmunks, small pets |
| Northern goshawk | 4 feet | Rabbits, squirrels, birds; occasionally cats, small dogs |
| Red-shouldered hawk | 3.5 feet | Rodents, amphibians, reptiles, small pets |
In general, the larger accipiter hawks like red-tailed, red-shouldered, and Northern goshawks are the primary threat to cats and small dogs. Smaller hawks pose danger to smaller pets like rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
All hawks can be a threat to unattended pets in the right circumstances. Their populations have rebounded in recent decades, increasing exposure.
Typical habitats for hawks that prey on pets
Hawks occupy diverse habitats across different regions. But in general, the habitats where pet-eating hawks are found include:
- Woodlands – Forested areas are prime red-tailed, red-shouldered, Cooper’s hawk habitat
- Urban parks – Hawks frequent treed parks in cities
- Wetlands – Great horned owls occupy marshes, wetlands, riverbanks
- Grasslands – Open habitat for hawks like red-tails and Northern harriers
- Suburbs – Lawns, yards, gardens mimic grassland habitat
Overlaps between suburban areas and adjacent woodlands or wetlands create prime areas for hawk-pet conflicts. Raptors hunt in edge habitats between natural areas and yards where pets are present.
Hawks also nest in tall trees in parks, backyards, golf courses, and other urban green spaces. Close proximity leads to more encounters between hawks and pets.
What to do if a hawk attacks your pet
If a hawk attacks your pet, here are the recommended steps:
- Make loud noises like shouting to try scaring off the hawk
- Stay close to your pet and keep it protectively behind you
- Throw sticks or clap hands at the hawk to drive it away
- Pick up and hold a small pet if possible to get it inside quickly
- Monitor your pet for injuries and take it to a veterinarian if needed
Never attempt to grab a hawk or remove your pet directly from its talons, as you risk injury. Focus on deterring the hawk until it retreats. Get your pet safely inside a house, garage, or kennel as soon as possible if outside during an attack.
Preventive measures against hawk attacks on pets
To protect pets, focus on prevention by:
- Keeping small pets indoors or in screened enclosures
- Staying within a few feet of pets when outside
- Avoiding areas where hawks are known to hunt
- Using hawk deterrents like flashing lights, tin foil pan, wind chimes
- Secure outdoor kennels and enclosures with roofs and fencing
Avoid leaving any pet unattended long enough for a hawk attack. Supervise outdoor time for cats, small dogs, chickens, rabbits, and other potential prey. Follow these precautions and the risk of hawk attacks can be greatly minimized.
Pets most at risk for hawk attacks
The pets most vulnerable to hawk attacks include:
- Rabbits
- Chickens
- Rats and mice
- Hamsters
- Guinea pigs
- Small birds like parakeets
- Cats under 10 pounds
- Small dog breeds under 20 pounds like Chihuahuas and Yorkies
Larger parrot species may also be at risk from large hawks. Any small prey animal that lives outside or has unsupervised outdoor time can potentially be preyed upon by hawks.
How to identify hawks in your area
Learning to identify local hawks helps assess which species may prey on pets:
- Red-tailed hawks – Most common larger hawk with distinctive red tail
- Red-shouldered hawks – Red and white checkerboard wings when perched
- Cooper’s hawks – Medium accipiter with blue-gray back and reddish barred underparts
- Sharp-shinned hawks – Small accipiter with orange-barred underparts
- Northern goshawks – Large, fierce accipiter with striking white eye stripe
- Northern harriers – Long-winged, long-tailed hawks that glide low over open country
Get a field guide or use an app to learn their distinguishing marks. Observe hawks around your neighborhood to pinpoint which frequent the area.
Legal considerations if a hawk kills your pet
Many hawk species are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes capturing, killing, or possessing hawks, feathers or body parts illegal without permits. However, there are steps you can take if a hawk preys on your pet:
- Document evidence like photos or videos of the attack
- Contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service to apply for a federal depredation permit if a protected hawk is involved
- Apply for a state permit to remove a problem hawk nest or individual preying on pets
- Use legal means of deterrent and exclusion of hawks from your property
Killing or harming a hawk without the proper permit can result in fines and criminal charges. Following the law while protecting pets minimizes liability.
Key takeaways on hawks attacking pets
In summary:
- Many common pets are prey size for various hawk species
- Cats, small dogs, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats at high risk
- Larger hawks can attack up to small dog size, 20 pounds
- Never leave smaller pets unsupervised outdoors
- Attend and supervise even larger pets when outside
- Protect pets with deterrents and enclosed kennels/pens
- Learn your local hawk species to assess risks
While hawks play important roles in ecosystems, pet owners must be vigilant. Follow prevention measures, and the chances of hawks preying on treasured family pets can be significantly reduced.
Conclusion
Hawks are opportunistic predators that will prey on pets if given the chance. Small mammals and birds commonly kept as pets are certainly at risk. Larger hawks can also attack cats and tiny dogs. There are measures pet owners can take, however, to reduce the chance of hawks eating their beloved animals.
Keeping smaller pets indoors and having supervised outdoor time minimizes exposure to hawks. Deterrent devices help make yards less welcoming to hawks. Staying close to cats and small dogs when outside also keeps them safer. Following these precautions, hawks and pets can coexist more peacefully.
While hawk attacks do occur, they are relatively rare events considering the large number of potential prey animals, including pets. But being aware of the risk and taking preventive action is key to protecting both hawks and pets. With some simple diligence, pet owners can maintain the joy of spending time outdoors with their animals while significantly reducing risks. By understanding hawk behavior and vulnerabilities of pets, peaceful coexistence is possible.
