West Seattle wildlife: Another owl-attack report

| Safety | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Remember the saga of the attacking owl on Bonair, in upper Alki, last month? Henry e-mailed to say it’s also happened to him:

I’ve been attacked by an owl on Bonair 4 times over the past few weeks. The first time was a flyover; the next time he took my wool hat off my head; the next time I wore a construction hard hat and heard a thunk. The owl was stunned after the collision and flew off. The next day, Friday the 28th, I wore the hard hat and brought a flash light. The owl came from his usual perch and I happened to turn and shine the light on him. He put on the brakes and flew away; it’s a pretty big owl. All the attacks occur at dawn on my way to work out on the Alki stairs. Is this a crazy owl or what! I see I’m not alone. This could get serious so what should be done?

We’ve also heard a couple other scattered reports since the last one published here in December. For information about Seattle’s owl population, check out this Audubon website.

HunterG January 29, 2011 (9:35 pm)

Give a hoot, don’t pollute!

Kidding aside, what can be done other than being aware of your surroundings? The hard hat is a good idea too. But for others, I think maybe a sign or two on the street posts or something to make them aware would be a very neighborly thing to do.

Maybe he/she just likes you.

jayzee January 29, 2011 (11:04 pm)

I might consider going elsewhere to do the stairs.

Wondering January 29, 2011 (11:05 pm)

Wooh wooh wooh’s ever heard of such a thing?! Can owls get rabies? I dont understand why it’d attack. Is there a nest nearby?

Mike January 29, 2011 (11:11 pm)

Maybe this has more info?
.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003430671_gardenwildlife15.html
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http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/owls.html#conflicts

Alki Resident January 29, 2011 (11:13 pm)

Henry-According to what i read up on Google tonite,your hair or hat may resemble an animal.They don’t care if you’re human or animal,they will try to attack for food or protect their young.
They suggest looking around and making eye contact so they know you know they’re there.And since there are so many trees by where you go,chances are there is a nest.

(required) January 29, 2011 (11:35 pm)

This is outrageous. It is time to end the lives of all owls in West Seattle. We cannot allow wildlife to interfere with our safety. Beside, I bet the owl would be delicious if only sauteed in truffle oil infused baboon broth. In fact, let’s go a step further: let’s eliminate every other species from the face of the Earth, unless we can domesticate it …. AND it won’t give us gas. Especially let’s get rid of the ones that mess with the ‘do. I mean, seriously: if the darned things want to live, and expect us to let them, tell them to just grow some opposable thumbs and improve their cranial capacity, like us. I say these creatures need to get real. What, do such creatures think life is a free lunch?

Oh, will you please pass the salt? Mmmmmm…..

Jenn January 29, 2011 (11:50 pm)

The UW did a study that demonstrated that crows remember people. Particularly those whom they’ve had a negative experience with. Maybe that’s the case with other birds?

http://www.willamette.edu/people/archives/2010/02/crows.html

TinkerinWS January 30, 2011 (1:43 am)

Maybe the Owl has a nest or lives by that area and is only protecting its self like a person would do.

morning person January 30, 2011 (2:23 am)

time to get the T-shirt from The Onion: “Owls are As——-“? Might make you feel better? there is an owl at Greenlake. He swoops over me early in the morning, too. Guess he is still in full menu gear. Freaks me out. But I like him more than dogs off leash, and they don’t make doo, which is wonderful.

Running is dangerous! January 30, 2011 (5:16 am)

So I know of at least 3 Owl attacks on the same woman (a jogger) in the Admiral district. They have occurred in the early morning hours around 6:30 am. They seem to happen around 2 blocks north of the Metropolitan Market on 41st. Luckily the jogger lady wears a hat. Not a construction one, unfortunately. Must be a nest somewhere around that area? Anyone else had a problem?

miws January 30, 2011 (7:15 am)

Might be wise (heh!) to leave the ol’ Davey Crockett cap at home!

Mike

austin January 30, 2011 (7:40 am)

There are hard hats with lights attached for sale on amazon dot com.

michael January 30, 2011 (7:51 am)

must be a terrorist owl !!!!!!!

Marco January 30, 2011 (8:19 am)

My cheweiners and I have been stalked by this stealthy owl on our morning constitutional several times. I think this winged fella is a bit loopy! He is rather large and its amazing how stealty this fella is. I will protect my cheweiners to the death if he decides they look like a yummy breakfast!
Marco

vortex2.71 January 30, 2011 (8:49 am)

It could be fun to buy feeder mice at the pet store. Then you could hold one up in the air when you leave in the morning and then toss it on the ground for him.

matt January 30, 2011 (8:55 am)

Are you kidding me? You’re really freaked out by this?

This happens to me on a fairly regular basis. It is awesome. The beauty, the grace, the absolute stealth of these creatures is a wonder.

I’m blown away that somebody would think this a threat of some sort. What should be done? Enjoy it. You are lucky.

Paul January 30, 2011 (9:11 am)

Maybe they are pissed off because we are killing their habitat? notice all the clear cutting driving up admiral hill

Avian January 30, 2011 (9:23 am)

Since these attacks happened to a man, I don’t think any of the posts from women should be considered. They have no right to have feelings or an opinion on this viscious owl attack because it didn’t happen to them. (stand by for emotional retorts)

Don January 30, 2011 (9:25 am)

Alfred Hitchcock’s the birds are playing out in real life. MSN ran a story Friday that reported a wild turkey attacked a postal carrier back in the midwest. It’s open season on people. What’s next?

RJB January 30, 2011 (11:37 am)

Nature takes revenge…..

Peter January 30, 2011 (12:45 pm)

Are you wearing tight fitting running shorts, or perhaps yoga pants on your way to work? Combined with a hardhat this ensemble could be quite irresistible to an impact prone owl.

Sorry, comment time is over.