No more so then they were in danger in CA ... which is to say very little danger.

Most raptors are too small to handle 15-19 pound prey. Even the largest hawks, the red-tails, go for bunnies, squirrels and other small animals. Those weigh half pound to maybe a couple of pounds.

Raptors are cautious and usually don't try to kill something that is too large to fly away with.

In California I didn't have to worry because we're too far in the valley (the raptors don't have anywhere to hunt in the middle of suburbia so they stay in the hills or close by). I always heard of people losing cats or small dogs in those areas, though.

And thanks for the reassurance :)

Where I live, small dogs have been taken by coyotes and bobcats. It's something we have to take into consideration. Birds, though, are very light. The threat they pose to a dog that size is pretty much nil. I have seen Red-tailed Hawks take kittens.

TMFF, the house has a perimeter fence. It's 5 or 6 feet tall, so I think the coyotes won't be much of a threat. I'm not sure about bob cats though :/

I do know my dogs can hold their own against opossums though (we used to have a family that lived in our neighbors tree). I was just worried about the threat of an aerial attack. My dogs have never had to worry about birds before.

I've seen & heard about hawks & owls taking Chihuahuas and kittens or cats, but they probably weighed less than 5 pounds. I would not think a raptor, unless it was an Eagle, would be able to lift a dog of that weight, BUT with us humans encroaching on their habitat and with the weather extremes, and the raptors being hungry, they MIGHT strike and then eat rather than trying to lift it. You talk like your yard is probably small though and probably surrounded by neighbors with larger dogs...so it will probably not be a problem. Raptors aren't dumb either :)

I live in the country and have a chihuahua. I stay outside with her if my Aussie isn't protecting her...and especially stay close to her at night. Owls are our biggest threat.

Enjoy your new home!

If you have seen or heard of raptors in your new area, then I would heed the caution mentioned by previous posts and be careful. As a small animal veterinarian, I see the results of raptor attacks occasionally. The worst seem to occur at night, likely from Great Horned Owls. I say likely, because most owners do not see the attack, even though they may be nearby when it occurs. The owl swoops in, tries to take down the small dog, and then is either successful or not. The resulting talon injuries can be significant, but in a dog the size of yours, are usually not fatal. I have heard of fatal attacks of very tiny dogs by Bald Eagles, either from attack or from being carried off. We, too, see many serious attacks by coyotes and wolves, which sound like they would be less of a risk in your new neighborhood. Best advice is to stay with your pets when outside at night, and consider a good yard light to help discourage sneak attacks.