We've had a Cooper's hawk in our yard for several months now. I guess I've been fattening up the doves for too long. :-)

Today is the first day I've seen it actually eating a bird (missed the kill, darn!) but this morning saw it fly on two unsuccessful tries to get doves.

I have mixed emotions, of course. I love watching such a great bird sit on our bench and act like it's "his" turf. But I also love watching all the other birds come in and feed, we have a huge variety. The only negative for me is that there are so few birds around lately because he's set up camp here on a daily basis. Still, it's very fun watching Mr. Cooper. He's a first year juvenile, still has the vertical stripes on his chest.

We put in a large strip of land (about an acre long by 20 feet wide) where we don't mow, have planted many wildflowers and trees (over 100 trees) just to bring in smaller animals and birds as everyone around here has "fencerow fever" and loves to remove old fencerows, the only standing thing left for wildlife. I have a feeling this has led to more hawks due to rabbits and other smaller mammals. I think it's a great addition to the yard, a place that never gets trimmed and mowed and is just wild. I really don't care what the neighbors think and I'm very thankful that I live in a rural "non-stepford neighborhood" where everything is über controlled.

Enjoy what ever happens in your yard and let it be!

I have seen video of an eagle taking down a full grown deer. Don't be deterred by size. They don't always fly off with their prey. They can kill it on the ground, then feast. Some vultures have also been known to be aggressive enough to kill.

*cough* Alot of people don't know this but Great Horned Owls prey on hawks. Even the big Redtail Hawks are easily killed by them. Soooo.. if you put up a fake owl in your yard, mostly likely your hawk will quickly leave. You may scare off some other wildlife doing this but they tend to catch on that it's fake. I love hawks but I also love doves and pigeons... ;)

Growing up as a teenager my parents like most the folks in our neighborhood kept a bird feeder in the front yard. Well, we had the wonderful experience of being able to attract a Sparrow Hawk. From what I remember the Hawk was young and inexperienced, we had a large evergreen about five feet from the bird feeder and once it had failed to catch a bird near the feeder it would dive into the evergreen after another chance at dinner. Usually it would miss and retire to it's usual perch atop the bird feeder for about half an hour. It was really nice to have the hawk around though I'm pretty sure the nesting pair of redtails we had down the road ran him off.

I am going to somehwat stay on topic but change it a bit here. I have been renting a house in a little beaver county Pa town for more than a yr now last summer we noticed a hawk circling quite a bit then we can to realize that this hawk has a nest on my roof!!! It has killed mice (we found carcasses) this summer as it is starting we are finding very large feathers in our yard we also can tell that this hawk has babies!! IDK what to do?!? I have to indoor cats but some of my windows do not have screens and this hawk has been seen taunting my cats, my one cat will watch the hawk like a a hawk and im at a lose!!

Nikkena - You leave it alone.

What species is it? Upload a picture if you can, and we can evaluate how worried you need to be about your cats. Most hawks and owls are too small to tackle a domestic cat.

Tell the landlord, and after the babies have left the nest, the nest can be removed. And tell him you want screens!

Hi. I'm new here and I want to know how my dad can keep his teacup yorkie safe. We know not to ever just leave her outside as you would a regular sized dog, but this dog has become one of my dad's most important companion since the passing of my mom within the last three years. My cousin gave the dog to my dad for Father's Day and initially, my dad thought, "What am I going to do with such a little dog?" But, in the last years, he and she(the dog) have become co-dependent on each other. My dad has a pond in the backyard, in a small rather modest home in San Jose, and he noticed a hawk a few times, just hanging out there. The pond hasn't any fish in it, so I'm wondering why it's still hanging around there. My dad's dog goes outside to do her business, but she's very small, and especially with this heat, she's groomed and looks even tinier. What can my dad do to discourage this hawk from hanging out. I purchased one of those plastic owls, but the hawk is not afraid of it. Please help.

BBurns ... escort the dog outside, or put it into a covered dog run to poop and pee.

Actually, a covered dog run might be a good idea, especially since my dad is elderly. This can make it easier on him rather than have to harness the dog each time. Thank you! 8o)

do not have a shot of the hawk but here is one one the feathers. I have witnessed this hawk stalk fairly large rabbits in my neighbors yard which is another reason I am so concerned about my cats plus my sister in law cat keeps getting out. Plus there are stays in my neighborhood.

shoot cat, shoot dog! No more problems! Shoot hawk--big problems! Better use gun, no traps! Buy large perched owl, at hardware store, set out in yard in prominent place--no more crows!

Thanks Rustyj44. I've seen them at the stores, but they look so fake. But, I suppose that even if I were to see a huge plastic dog showing teeth, I wouldn't get too close to examine if it's real or not, either. So, I think that should work. Thank you. 8o)

I want a hawk to eat all the rabbits! Can you catch it and ship it over? :-) The rabbits eat my roses.......

My fake owl sits on a sewer manhole cover in the side yard, in plain sight.

One day, I heard a gaggle of crows, up high in an oak tree, planning what to do next. Evidently, they had not spotted old Howland Owl sitting there.

Suddenly-their lookout did see the owl, and let out a shriek that would scare anybody set upon doing bad things! As a body-they rose from the trees, and scattered, flying off in all directions! That was 2 years ago-and they haven't been back since! Rusty J.

hmmm. Well, it's certainly worth a try. We've hung shiny things from trees, but the Hawk still comes down as do the crows. Thank you.

Well I just witnessed a hawk swoop down to nearly attack my 9 lb toy poodle right in my city back yard... What can I do to make the hawk go elsewhere? It also appears that a tree in my backyard has a nest... Any ideas would be appreciated as I also have a four year old son that plays out in the yard....

Jenn - What city and what kind of hawk?

Hawks WILL swoop down to catch mice or bunnies that other animals scare up. It may have been after a bird or squirrel or rat, because a 9-pound fluffy dog is a bit large for any USA hawk.

As for the nest - just cut the tree down. It's absolutely horrible that nature should try to exist in your city back yard. Even if it's a federally protected species and it's illegal to disturb their nests, get rid of it.

As for the child, unless it grabs the hawk, he's safe: http://nature.gardenweb.com/discussions/2240250/can-raptors-carry-off-dogs-and-toddlers

What about bear spray? That thing can spray 30+'.........

Hawks are known to remain in a specific area thru generations, up to 45 years or so if the food supply is good. Cut off his food supply, by not feeding the birds. Hopefully he will move on, but I wouldn't count on it.

It ain't my hawk! I do have a round, ball shaped head dropping down on my screen, and a flock of blackbirds zipping around on it! Probably a gift from my dear Grand-daughter. I have a large stick here, with which to smack her bottom! chuckle!

I agree - a hawk just flew into my yard and it is eating the doves that have lived here for years - I will take down bird feeders and see if it goes away

Aww, just get somebody to shoot it, and quit yammering! Yeah, that sounds harsh and cruel, but, i doubt if one dead hawk is going to upset the ratio of cats to hawks, or cars to hawks, or anything else! And, once it is GONZO, you will have peace of mind again! And, you can complain about the rats, cats, mice, moles and voles, that will be only too willing to set up camp in yer yard!

This complainer should go live in the deep city, where hawks seldom live! Then she'd have a legitimate gripe about stuff that really matters--like her life, home, kids, and family!

I am now 90 YOA! Still hale and hearty! Wife passed on 3 years ago, from smoking! Couldn't/wouldnt give them up. Miss her! Rusty J14

Mike_18, I seriously hope you were joking.

I haven't finished reading all the comments as most of them were irrelevant , but I still hope that someone might know how to remove a Hawk from my backyard. I was attacked yesterday by a Hawk, was rushed to a clinic bleeding, had to go through all kind of stuff, I am a 5th victim, another lady had it much worse. We don't feed them, no nest around, Animal Control will not remove them even though if there was a small child in my place ( and we have plenty of children in the neighborhood) he or she would not have survived the hit. I am looking for an expert who can give a REAL advice. I have read that a certain high pitched noise might drive them away? Any recommendation would be appreciated.

Lana Light ... what kind of hawk is it?

They are usually only that way when their offspring are at a certain age, and they think you are going to harm the offspring.

I have a gang of hawks. They swoop down and try to attack me and yesterday they took a rabbit out of the yard. They trapped a squirrel on the trampoline,. I find dead mice in my yard. While interesting to watch I am worried about my small dogs. They need to go.

It took me years of research about bird habitats and we have spent a large amount of money on landscape plant for birds, etc.. The Hawks have killed all of the cardinals, doves, bluejays, finches, titmice, chickadees, robins, etc.. We have nothing in the bird houses this year. We miss the birds singing and watching the fledglings. Just Hawks that are now killing the squirrels and rabbits that remain....that is all we hear. Rabbits scream when they are taken by the Hawks. We removed the feeders, too. I do not know what else to do! The birds were my joy all year......now nothing. It is illegal to shoot the Hawks, but I would like for them to find another place to eat.

If you hate them so much, what about using pressure washer to wash their nest away little by little while they aren't there......you'd need a gas powered one. Please check with your local laws, make sure it's ok to do so.

The nest is not in our yard or I would use your great idea! Maybe somebody else will read this and use it.

I live in Florida, and we have had issues with hawks the last two years. One just now took off with a baby bird. Every day, there is a "war" going on between the hawks and the other birds. I do not feed the birds, and I do not know where the hawk nest is, but I sure wish they would move on. I am sick of the noise, and finding feathers on the ground every time I go into the backyard. It's a shame it's against the law to kill them, because they are thinning out the other bird population.

Yes. I know it's nature. A couple of weeks ago, one grabbed a squirrel, but it droped it after a couple of feet. However, since then, the squirrels have stayed low, or maybe the hawks got them, because we used to have at least five or six in the back yard. Whatever might be a predator to the hawks, need to come around, to help balance things out.

Libnda2080 ... I doubt that "the hawks" have killed ALL THE BIRDS and have moved on to the mammals. They don't hunt that way. Perhaps your removing the feeders spreads the bird visits out so you don't notice them.

hawks are at the top of the food chain, so other than a few big owls or raccoons that find hawk young a tasty morsel, they really have nothing to thin them out other than loss of food source ....which seems in abundant supply in our back yards. With our expanding population, there are fewer open fields for them to snatch up mice and moles...so in moves the Hawk family.

I do not have bird feeders in the backyard. They have not killed all of the birds, but they have killed a number of them, given the number of clumps of feathers I find in the back yard. Debbie, I guess maybe I can get a fake "owl" and place that in the backyard.

Lazy_gardens...you are correct about them not getting all of the birds as we saw a cat in the spring, but it is not here anymore. We put some plastic spikes down that kept the cat away. But, I really do think it has mostly been the Hawks that have eaten most of the wildlife. There are about Five of them. I can hear the youngsters calling for food and know they need something to eat. I just want them to move on. Yesterday, they were all under a bush tormenting a poor turtle. I walked down there to get them away from it. I do not think they would have killed the turtle, but they were jumping on it's shell and trying to turn it over. Like I keep saying, I just want them to leave. On a side note, my neighbor has osprey visiting her koi pond and taking off with the fish!

What about using a drone flying around their nest all the time? They might move or they might take down the drone.......

I am sick of the hawks tearing the pigeons apart in my back yard! There are plenty of places in the wild around here for them to go to! Don't anyone hand me the phrase it's the circle of life! Well how bout I send them all over to YOUR yards and let them dump their mess on your property since you are hawk sympathizers! I will do what I have to to keep them away! If they touch my cat, they're dead!

Mary Lou ... "I am sick of the hawks tearing the pigeons apart in my back yard!"

Hawks are messy eaters. If someone in the neighborhood is feeding pigeons, ask them to stop it. If there are no pigeons to be eaten, your back yard will stay cleaner.

Few hawks are big enough to take a house cat - the most common raptor that eats cats is the Great Horned Owl. Coyotes also eat a lot of cats.

It has to be a coopers hawk.. probably de-feathers it right there in your yard. Are you feeding the birds? When did the hawk issue begin? If recently, you probably have a migrant that has decided to stay at your yard all Winter. If it's been going on for months, this one should move south in the next month or sooner. Typically, the female coopers takes the larger songbirds but she nearly
always migrates. The male may stay behind to guard their territory but the male hunts smaller birds like titmice, cardinals, sparrows, etc. For the time being, if feeding, I would remove any feeders unless temperatures drop so much that feeding is a necessity. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, the hawk will move on.

I'm very happy that the noisy little hawk is landing on our deck and scooping our yard for vermin , i want gone. just was wondering why he was so noisy but the youngster route is most logical. was just concerned

doug, depends on what you call 'vermin'. Alot of people think of all wildlife as vermin. Be careful on what you wish for. Our wildlife is diminishing. If we don't all start making room for wildlife in our yards, we wont have any.. and other species have a right to be here too.

Our hawk is currently rebuilding his nest for year 4 of suburban habitation. Not my tree or it'd be down. Hawk got me three times last year. Twice on the head, once on the back. Talon marks took awhile to heal and I was nauseous for several days. He swooped at me more times than I can count. Once the eggs are laid I am forced to wear a kid's Dory bike helmet with eyes on it so he'll leave me alone while I work in the yard. I also have taped a belt to a boogie board and put it on my rump to keep him off my back. I have to wear my helmet or carry an umbrella to get the mail or take out trash. He loves to take hats off folk'

Wow, that's pretty bad! The helmet looks cute on you! :-) May be powerwash can get your big bird to move away.......wash the nest everyday with your helmet on. I am not sure if it's ok to do so though, you'd have to check with your town office.

You can't disturb a nest once it has eggs in it. If you at all prevent a hawk from raising it's young, it's called a 'take'. The hawk may or may not abandon the nest and the young may or may not get the food they need to grow and if any of the disturbance is your doing, US Fish & Wildlife will be secretly filming you and trying to build a case. Many people get on a 'witch hunt' over hawks and 'their rights'. It's a small minded neighborhood thing because many view the hawks now as cool thanks to nest cams. My advice is to remove any tall trees that would be an ideal nesting site if budget allows, or make them unappealing before nesting season by paying a tree climber to add a fake racoon or fake owls that move, or other bright, big objects that move such as huge balloons with eyes, large shiny pinwheels with tape that flashes in the breeze. Add several so as to overwhelm the hawk as it first approaches it's old nesting area. It may not stop the hawk from coming to the area but may pursuade it to nest elsewhere. Just make sure that the type of hawk you're trying to encourage to move isn't considered endangered in your area. Your local game commission may have that information. A pic provided to them will be helpful. I know red shouldered hawks are becoming more scarce due to red tail hawks taking over good hunting and nesting grounds. Just check with your local authorities before taking any action.

have hawks around my house i cant let my cat out they need to be caught and taken away