Oberle
Trusted Member
source: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/25/european-eagle-owl-attacks-dutch-town-purmerend
Apparently this spate of owl attacks is due to: 1) people raising owls in captivity then letting them go, 2) the owl version of PMS :hilarious:
Apparently this spate of owl attacks is due to: 1) people raising owls in captivity then letting them go, 2) the owl version of PMS :hilarious:
A Dutch town has advised residents to arm themselves with an umbrella when going out at night after a mysterious spate of bloody rogue owl attacks.
Over the last three weeks, the European eagle owl has silently swooped on dozens of people in Purmerend, in the north of the Netherlands, with many victims requiring hospital treatment.
The latest aerial assault on Tuesday evening saw two members of a local athletics club attacked, with one runner requiring stitches for six head wounds caused by the nocturnal bird of prey’s talons.
The club has cancelled all training until further notice.
Residents and workers at Prinsenstichting home for the disabled have been left terrified following at least 15 attacks, spokeswoman Liselotte de Bruijn told AFP.
“During the day there’s no problem, but at night we now only venture outside armed with umbrellas, helmets and hats, anything really, to protect ourselves,” said De Bruijn.
“The problem is that you don’t hear the owl before it strikes. Its claws are razor-sharp,” she said.
“We hope the city will soon catch this rogue bird.”
* * *
Gejo Wassink of the Netherlands’ OWN owl foundation said the bird’s behaviour was unusual.
“Either the owl was reared in captivity and released into the wild and now associates humans with food – meaning it’s not really ’attacking’ people.”
“Or it may have heightened hormone levels as the breeding season starts, which influences its behaviour and makes it defend its territory,” Wassink told AFP, saying the bird “appears to be a female”.
* * *
The European eagle owl is one of the largest owl species, with a wingspan of up to 1.80m (almost 6ft) and weighing up to 3kg (7lb)
Over the last three weeks, the European eagle owl has silently swooped on dozens of people in Purmerend, in the north of the Netherlands, with many victims requiring hospital treatment.
The latest aerial assault on Tuesday evening saw two members of a local athletics club attacked, with one runner requiring stitches for six head wounds caused by the nocturnal bird of prey’s talons.
The club has cancelled all training until further notice.
Residents and workers at Prinsenstichting home for the disabled have been left terrified following at least 15 attacks, spokeswoman Liselotte de Bruijn told AFP.
“During the day there’s no problem, but at night we now only venture outside armed with umbrellas, helmets and hats, anything really, to protect ourselves,” said De Bruijn.
“The problem is that you don’t hear the owl before it strikes. Its claws are razor-sharp,” she said.
“We hope the city will soon catch this rogue bird.”
* * *
Gejo Wassink of the Netherlands’ OWN owl foundation said the bird’s behaviour was unusual.
“Either the owl was reared in captivity and released into the wild and now associates humans with food – meaning it’s not really ’attacking’ people.”
“Or it may have heightened hormone levels as the breeding season starts, which influences its behaviour and makes it defend its territory,” Wassink told AFP, saying the bird “appears to be a female”.
* * *
The European eagle owl is one of the largest owl species, with a wingspan of up to 1.80m (almost 6ft) and weighing up to 3kg (7lb)