Can a Hawk Pick Up Your Dog? Vet Approved Facts & Safety Tips

Vet approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Karyn Kanowski

BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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It is an expected sight to think about a hawk swooping down and picking up a field mouse. These birds of prey are notorious for their hunting capabilities and can pick up sizable prey in broad daylight—even someone’s chickens!

What you might not think about is your domestic pets being a target. If you wonder if a hawk can pick up a small dog or puppy, your concerns are valid. Yes, it is entirely possible for a hawk to pick up a canine, depending on its size.

In this article, we will discuss when your dog could be a target and other valuable information.

Hawks Can Pick Up Very Small Dogs

Hawks are medium-sized birds of prey that are capable of stealthily hunting a variety of smaller animals. Even though dogs aren’t on their average daily menu, that won’t keep them from trying if they see an opportunity strike.

Amazingly, hawks are capable of picking up prey that is equal to their own body weight. So the good news is that most dogs are too large for hawks to carry off successfully. However, some hawks might mistake the size of a dog before trying to attack, leading to injury with no successful lift-off.

If the animal is too heavy, it can cause the hawk to drop the dog or injure it without actually being able to subdue it.

Most Hawks Will Not Try to Attack a Dog

The largest hawk in North America weighs, at most, 4 pounds. Since a hawk can carry up to its body weight and no more, the likelihood that it would ever try to carry off a dog is improbable.

However, some very small puppies and toy breeds look like good targets. So, if a hawk mistakes the size of your dog, it might swoop down anyway to try to make a meal., but this is incredibly unlikely.

A hawk is quick, agile, and swift, capable of targeting their prey with shocking speed, demonstrating their ability to assess a situation from a great distance. In the majority of cases, hawks will see a dog and understand that it is not the correct size prey for them. The barking of dogs will also be off-putting.

Often, it is aerodynamically impossible and illogical for hawks to try. If a hawk misjudges on a rare occasion, they might not be able to carry off a dog, but they certainly can cause some physical harm.

Drops and Falls

If a hawk ever tries to snatch up a dog, it will lift off and soon realize it cannot carry the animal’s weight. This can lead to drops or falls that can injure, or even kill a dog.

A dog that a hawk has dropped from any height must be examined by your vet promptly.

When a Dog Is Too Big to Carry Off

If you see a hawk swoop down to grab your dog, adrenaline and panic will run through your body. However, if the hawk cannot lift the dog off the ground, it will quickly fly away to avoid any danger lurking.

You might breathe a sigh of relief thinking your dog is completely well. However, hawks have mighty talons. These talons are capable of puncturing your dog’s fragile skin. So even if they couldn’t successfully whisk your dog away, they might have injured them.

If a hawk has attacked your dog, you first need to check their body over for puncture wounds. They might be acting like everything is fine, but their adrenalin is likely pumping too.

Signs of Infection from a Hawk Attack

If you get your dog to the vet immediately following a hawk attack, infection should be completely avoided.

However, if you could not get your dog to the vet for any reason, you must look out for signs of infection. Infections can be severe and lead to shock, sepsis, and even death.

Your dog must receive the proper treatment to get rid of the infection. Typically your vet will prescribe an antibiotic to get your dog back to normal.

Dogs That Might Be Targeted

While it is doubtful that a hawk would mess with a dog, especially with humans near, it’s still possible. But keep in mind, hawks will generally only attack something that is their size or smaller.

Still, they might try to attack something between 5 and 7 pounds, permitting your dog to look like a good enough target.

All of these dogs can weigh under 7 pounds as adults, though some might weigh more. Remember that it is extremely rare for a hawk to attack a dog of any size. But it is a bigger risk if the dog is visually the size of a rabbit or smaller.

Always Supervise Your Pets

Realistically, unless you are a tiny dog weighing 3 pounds or less, you have nothing to worry about. To be safe, it’s always best to supervise your little dog very closely in any open setting. This is particularly important in times of drought, or following a natural disaster, when a hawk’s natural food source may be scarce. Hungry predators are far more likely to take risks.

Hawks aren’t the only problematic predators that could hurt your small dog. If it’s very far away from you, it leaves the animal vulnerable to an attack by a likelier source.

Small pups always need their human protectors around for safety. Never leave your pup, especially tiny ones, to their own devices out in nature. One moment is all it takes for danger to strike.

Conclusion

Realistically, the likelihood that a hawk will try to attack your dog is slim to none. Hawks are excellent judges of circumstance, only using their energy for surefire targets. If your dog looks a little too large or potentially hard to catch, a hawk will save its stamina for a better situation. This is particularly true if they can see human activity nearby.

If you do have a teeny dog or puppy, and are in an area where birds of prey are active, vigilance is always wise. This is particularly true when environmental conditions may be pushing hawks into taking greater risks for a meal.

Getting immediate veterinary attention is imperative in the rare event that your dog is attacked or carried off by a hawk. Hawks have impressive speed and razor-sharp talons that can do extreme damage to your dog both externally and internally.

Featured Image Credit: jasongillman, Pixabay