Posted on 07/08/2009 8:52:47 PM PDT by Chet 99
Thursday, July 02, 2009 By LORI STABILE lstabile@repub.com
BELCHERTOWN - Ellen M. Majka was inside her home on Prescott Hill when she saw a bald eagle swoop down into her neighbor's yard.
It was the first time she saw a bald eagle in the neighborhood.
But even more surprising was what she saw in its talons when it flew back up - a black cat.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life. I was shocked. I said, 'Oh my God,'" Majka said.
The incident happened early, just after 6 am. on June 23.
According to eagle experts, a bald eagle capturing a cat is not impossible, but highly unusual.
"I believe it is within the realm of possibility and has been documented elsewhere. Bald eagles are capable of taking domestic cats," William J. Davis, district manager for Worcester County for the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, said Wednesday.
While the main diet of bald eagles is fish, Davis said they are opportunistic and will eat squirrels, turtles, even Canada geese. They are also known to feast on animal carcasses, including deer.
Interestingly, when eaglets were brought to the Quabbin Reservoir in the 1980s from Nova Scotia, wildlife biologists there believed that the adult bald eagles were preying on feral and barn cats that lived near a lake, Davis said.
Ralph E. Taylor, district manager for the Connecticut Valley wildlife district for the state agency, agreed that a bald eagle taking a cat would be unusual.
(Excerpt) Read more at masslive.com ...
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That’s why you’re not supposed to let your cats go outside!!
Apologies to Peter Gabriel:
‘Wind was blowing, time stood still...
... eagle flew off with a cat’...
I’m glad my mini Jack Russell dog is pleasantly plump. We have a fence to keep out the coyotes and wolves, but the eagles and owls are another matter.
Kitty Ping
Bet the cat lived and now has 9 lives left.
JJ61
I CAN HAS KITTEH?
Talons cut the cats spinal cord. Sorry.
I heard the biggest killer of songbirds in the US is feral and domestic house cats.
Payback’s a bitch!
I meant to say 8 lives.
Good job, bald eagle!!
Had a Golden Eagle in Utah show up every time I walked my puppy.
If that cat was to jump on the eagle while it’s on the ground then I would probably put my money on the cat.
I keep my eagle on a leash.
And cats hold grudges
Yes. You'd have to raise the fence height to around eight feet and cover the entire yard with chicken wire. That would do the trick but the expense would be considerable.
You would lose your money, and your cat.
I’ve seen cats hunt and I’ve seen them take down big prey, especially birds of prey. I’ve seen domesticated cats take hawks and owls out of trees.
Lol!!
Wheeeee!!!!!
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