DebP Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Dear allI have the opportunity of renting a fabulous house in the country (Herault Dept 34). The house overlooks stunning countryside and vineyards, so it should be a simple tick box. However, on the second viewing I saw a huge bird of prey sitting nearby. We get lots of birds of prey in this area but I've never seen one quite so large and so close to a house I'd like to live in. I love to see these birds but am now being slightly paranoid thinking that my cats could be fair game for it. Please could someone in the know let me know if I'm being over protective or if this is a fair concern. My cats are quite large, they weigh between 4-5kg (9lb - I think?). I'm not up on birds of prey but it had markings similar to a thrush i.e dark brown feathers but with black flecks and at a guess I'd say it's wingspan would have been 3.5 - 4ft.ThanksDeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splishsplash Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 If it's a Buzzard or a Falcon, they usually feed on small mammals & small birds. I have seen one take a pigeon in mid flight.I've never heard of one taking a domestic cat though.Personally, I wouldn't worry about the cats, but I'm sure that if anyone on the forum knows differently, they will let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Deb. Take a look at these threads.http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1275267/ShowPost.aspxhttp://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1361067/ShowPost.aspxhttp://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1222086/ShowPost.aspxThere is a section on Wildlife in this Forum, which you may wish to peruse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebP Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Thanks CathyI've posted the same question in wildlife forum, hopefully there will be someone who's up on the birds in this area and tell me I'm being daft...it was just so large (beautiful though)....didn't see any small dogs or cats in the village either but that's probably me being paranoid now!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 You are being daft. Buzzards do not even bother cats as Splishsplash has already told you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebP Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 I've seen plenty of buzzards around here but this bird looked a lot bigger than one of those. Could do with knowing what it might be, if not a buzzard and if there are birds of prey in the south of France which could attack domestic pets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote user="DebP"] Dear allI have the opportunity of renting a fabulous house in the country (Herault Dept 34). The house overlooks stunning countryside and vineyards, so it should be a simple tick box. However, on the second viewing I saw a huge bird of prey sitting nearby. We get lots of birds of prey in this area but I've never seen one quite so large and so close to a house I'd like to live in. I love to see these birds but am now being slightly paranoid thinking that my cats could be fair game for it. Please could someone in the know let me know if I'm being over protective or if this is a fair concern. My cats are quite large, they weigh between 4-5kg (9lb - I think?). I'm not up on birds of prey but it had markings similar to a thrush i.e dark brown feathers but with black flecks and at a guess I'd say it's wingspan would have been 3.5 - 4ft.ThanksDeb[/quote]wingspan 3.5 - 4 feet describes a buzzard quite well. Their markings can be extremely varied too - hence the french name 'buse variable'There are buzzards all over here as well. They are not big enough to take on cats. Unless the place was high up it was unlikely to be anything bigger than a buzzard although anything is possible.I think you are probably being over protective...Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote user="Ron Avery"]You are being daft. Buzzards do not even bother cats as Splishsplash has already told you.[/quote]Ron. Deb is new to this Forum. Your post is intemperate and could have been written more politely. Please don't drive new people away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Perhaps this is in response to seeing a post by Odile I believe that said that apparently an eagle owl can take a fox. You aren't alone, I have also worried about similar things with my little old dog. I have thought about birds of prey because we have all sorts on our property and I have also even worried about the Stone Martin we have living here.So can understand your concerns. It is comforting to me as well to see others say it isn't possible. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote user="Cathy"][quote user="Ron Avery"]You are being daft. Buzzards do not even bother cats as Splishsplash has already told you.[/quote]Ron. Deb is new to this Forum. Your post is intemperate and could have been written more politely. Please don't drive new people away.[/quote]Cathy, speaking for myself, when having these sorts of concerns being called daft is a positive thing to hear. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote user="Cathy"] [quote user="Ron Avery"]You are being daft. Buzzards do not even bother cats as Splishsplash has already told you.[/quote]Ron. Deb is new to this Forum. Your post is intemperate and could have been written more politely. Please don't drive new people away.[/quote]The OP said "............... on the birds in this area and tell me I'm being daft" She was and I told her!! What's wrong with that? You bored again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventodue Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote user="DebP"] Could do with knowing ... if there are birds of prey in the south of France which could attack domestic pets[/quote]Hi Deb,The only bird of prey that might go for something as large as your cats is an Eagle Owl. Go http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3340123/Eagle-owl-terrorising-village's-pets-and-children.html. Size of a small house and, as you can tell from his/her eyes, absolutely fearless [:-))][IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr42/Ventodue/eurasian_eagle_owl.jpg[/IMG]Now, Eagle Owls do occur in l'Hérault ... but they are rare, and they normally only live in rocky, mountainous areas, especially places with cliffs - this where they nest. That said, they may come down to flatter land and wooded areas in the winter.However, the chances of an Eagle Owl bothering one of your cats is very, very, very small ...HTHCraig - in Montpellier, btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebP Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Thanks for this CraigI think I'll go back to the house and take another look because it was possible that the bird I saw was an Eagle Owl, looking at your picture. The house is right on the edge of the Haute Languedoc and is overlooked by quite high cliffs. This was my worry because in this area as you know Buzzards are almost as common as sparrows!! Well not quite but I see them daily, so I was pretty sure it wasn't one and if it was then it was the biggest I'd ever seen and quite plump, which again is not what I'm used to seeing. But that said, it was probably the closest I'd been to a bird like this before also, so it could also have been a case of perspective. It's also good to know that even if this was as I suspect an Eagle Owl, there's still little liklihood of this being a threat to my cats.Thanks also to Cathy...I used to use this forum a lot but got fed up with seeing genuine concerns being mocked by the superior beings on this forum. It's nice to know though that there are still some great people here who are willing to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 There are a number of birds of prey in your area - some of which are eagles (various) - as well as goshawks, Peregrine falcons and buzzards.* From an interest point of view, you are very lucky! Re the cats, you are probably being daft but if you want to put your mind completely at rest you could track down Chris-pp who posts on this forum (and others) and ask your question directly of him or you could call a bird of prey centre and ask them. I don't have contact details for a good, all round bird of prey centre in France so in the absence of that would recommend:http://icbp.org/index.htmlhttp://www.hawk-conservancy.org/Chris Luck's website is:http://planetepassion.com/* Source:Wildlife France by Bob Gibbons & Paul Davies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I have seen crows gang up on a cat - this was in a town setting. And our cats are very wary of the hens, having sufferred a few pecking attacks. They let the hens eat their food.I'm not a cat expert, but from these experiences I would say a cat could suffer damage from a large bird, though not be carried off.Ask Chris, as Catalpa suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Should the birds of prey perhaps be worried about your cats? [6]My pal has a ral "blokes" cat that would relish getting in a scrap with something with a wingspan like you have described. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebP Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 There are a number of birds of prey in your area - some of which are eagles (various) - as well as goshawks, Peregrine falcons and buzzards.* From an interest point of view, you are very lucky! Thanks Catalpa, there's a birds of prey centre about an hour from here, I'd not thought of contacting them, think I'll give them a bell. RegardsDeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote user="Patf"] I have seen crows gang up on a cat - this was in a town setting. [/quote]They do this to protect their young. I have seen it happen too but against a bird of prey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Domestic cats take far more wild birds than vice-versa - perhaps the eagle owl or whatever is planning revenge.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I have recently made many enquiries about birds of prey's hunting skills as used in falconry. In the UK, since the Hunt ban, many Hunts are using a bird of prey when out for the day, as it is still legal to flush a fox with dogs for the purpose of falconry. Barristers have come to the conclusion, with the help of falconry specialist, that Harris Hawks and Redtailed Buzzards, which are regularly used by hunts, cannot be used as 'token' birds for the purpose, as they clearly are unable to take a fox. Eagle Owls and Golden Eagles are also used by some Hunts - but legal advice to the Police also states that they can only be used by hunts if the Hunt or handler can give clear evidence that the bird has been trained to take a fox and is capable of doing so. If they are unable to do so, then the bird would be seen as a 'token' and the Hunt in clear breach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Sorry DebP. I was sure you were enquiring about your cats and their safety with birds of prey native to Herault, France. Not hunting foxes in the UK with non-native species. Please excuse my confusion. [:D]By the way, Deb, I would be interested in what you eventually find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Debp posted about a very large cat ~ 5kg which is about the same size as a small fox - hence the relevance. I have found some experts on a French website and have written to them. Will report back asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote user="odile"]Debp posted about a very large cat ~ 5kg which is about the same size as a small fox - hence the relevance. I have found some experts on a French website and have written to them. Will report back asap.[/quote]Excellent. Remember to ask them about cats, not foxes. [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Like you catalpa I did not see the relevance of Odile's post until I read it a second time. I think the point is that smaller raptors are not considered in the UK at least to be able to raise animals about the size of a cat - and therefore should be no threat whatsoever. Even larger birds such as the eagle owl and golden eagle are not considered to automatically be able to do so. In other words based on UK experience there should not be a problem. ............. and yes I do realise that there can be differences between species, but I consider the post as encouragement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Two specialists have got back to me and confirm that the risks to your cats are practically nil. The possibility of them being poisoned in rural France seems much higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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