Mace and Animals: While walking around, I came across a lady walking her little dog. I doubt it was more than 10 pounds. I mentioned that hawks were around the area and to be careful...

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

While walking around, I came across a lady walking her little dog. I doubt it was more than 10 pounds.

I mentioned that hawks were around the area and to be careful it doesn't get her dog. She calmly told me she had mace to use on anything threatening.

Sure, I thought to myself, that stuff slowly wears out on humans but what about wildlife? The time it takes to wear out on much larger people. Wouldn't mace blind a much smaller bird and for a longer time if ever at all?

Wouldn't that be the same as killing the bird?

If it acts differently on birds and wildlife in general, please tell me.

wwright Loc: Tucson

I'm not sure about mace. With capsaicin, if its applied to bird food, it has no effect on the birds (no taste buds); but, will drive the squirrels crazy. With regard to a hawk attacking a small dog, I doubt the dog owner would have time to react. I've seen hawks take out smaller birds, and they are amazingly fast.

retiredsgt Loc: Red Lion Pa.

As a retired Police, I can tell you for a fact that Mace does NOT work on everybody. If the dog, in question, is that small, mayhap she should be CARRYING the dog ! Of course, if the dog in question is on a leach, the Hawk may end up carrying the lady, with the Mace, off as well. Now, That would be a great Photo.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

retiredsgt wrote:

As a retired Police, I can tell you for a fact that Mace does NOT work on everybody. If the dog, in question, is that small, mayhap she should be CARRYING the dog ! Of course, if the dog in question is on a leach, the Hawk may end up carrying the lady, with the Mace, off as well. Now, That would be a great Photo.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

GENorkus wrote:

While walking around, I came across a lady walking... (show quote)

While I love wild life, if it comes down to me or my loved ones Guess who loses. Besides that I doubt a Hawk would attack with a human that close.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Don’t know; had a hawk dive bomb me while I was riding my MC in Okla. one time. Hit him with my front fender; fender okay-hawk not. Within a quarter mile had a second one do the same; he/she survived. Never did figure out why they were mad at me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

retiredsgt wrote:

Of course, if the dog in question is on a leach, the Hawk may end up carrying the lady, with the Mace, off as well. Now, That would be a great Photo.

Fingers crossed!

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

GENorkus wrote:

While walking around, I came across a lady walking... (show quote)

I always thought that Mace was some sort of mediaeval weapon, it was a short steel or wooden rod with a chain and a spiky ball on the end. I can't imagine trying to hit a hawk with something like this!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

whatdat wrote:

Don’t know; had a hawk dive bomb me while I was riding my MC in Okla. one time. Hit him with my front fender; fender okay-hawk not. Within a quarter mile had a second one do the same; he/she survived. Never did figure out why they were mad at me.

More than likely the Hawk was diving after some prey, and didn't even see you.
I had that happen yrs ago at night, an Owl hit just above the windshield on my old Scout , the Owl didn't survive, but did dent the roof on a corner.Lucky for my wife at the time probably would have come through the windshield.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

GENorkus wrote:

While walking around, I came across a lady walking... (show quote)

Many birds are immune to the effects of "peppers", birds cannot sense capsaicin, and will often eat hot peppers and seeds. That said;

We have a 4 Lb. Chihuahua and while she was a puppy and even now she is never off a leash, and always close to us. Hawks/eagles strike so fast that lady would likely just have time to say "hey, wheres my dog", we are talking a hard fast debilitating strike (speeds of 25-75 mph are pretty common, some are even faster), now, whether or not the bird can successfully take-off with the pet is questionable, but the damage may already be done (broken neck, or grave beak induced cutting, bird claw penetration, etc).

We have hawks/owls/eagles/bobcats/coyotes and others in the area. It would be a larger bird that would take a 10Lb. dog, but it has happened. Kittens are also at risk.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Manglesphoto wrote:

While I love wild life, if it comes down to me or my loved ones Guess who loses. Besides that I doubt a Hawk would attack with a human that close.

Mangles, I once saw a video of a girl holding up her pet kitten and a hawk swooped down and plucked it out of her hands, gone kitten, very sad girl.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Earnest Botello wrote:

Mangles, I once saw a video of a girl holding up her pet kitten and a hawk swooped down and plucked it out of her hands, gone kitten, very sad girl.

That would be sad, happened to a neighbor, but the kitten was running around the backyard. I saw a video of folks releasing a small bunny and it didn't make it accross the yard.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Earnest Botello wrote:

Mangles, I once saw a video of a girl holding up her pet kitten and a hawk swooped down and plucked it out of her hands, gone kitten, very sad girl.

Oh well we all must eat, I do wonder is the results would have been the same had the kitten been in the hands of an adult. Maybe if the Hawk were hungry enough.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Manglesphoto wrote:

Oh well we all must eat, I do wonder is the results would have been the same had the kitten been in the hands of an adult. Maybe if the Hawk were hungry enough.

I don't think it would have made a difference, holding up the pet was the girl's mistake, all the hawk saw was the opportunity and took advantage of it, the girl never saw the hawk coming from behind her.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

GENorkus wrote:

While walking around, I came across a lady walking... (show quote)

After reading the thread I find it very unlikely that any bird of prey would attack a dog right next to the human. I guess it may be in the realm of possibility but not likely.

Dennis