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Hi, I'm new here. I have an interest in wildlife in general.

Can someone tell me about the Eagle Owl(s) at Dunsop Bridge in the Forrest of Bowland. Are they part of a breeding program, or are they escapees. Or is there just one escapee ?

Thanks Stu.

I dont know Stu, but here if nothing else is an interesting read on Eagle owls at Dunsop Bridge

http://www.owls.org/News/feathersfly.htm

atb,
Mark

Thanks. It sounds as if they're escapees.
I found this amusing - “Killer owls which can attack dogs and deer .................."
Do they really take Deer !

Not sure about eagle owls taking deer, that is not their usual prey, neither are small dogs, IF they are escapee's then the Eagle owls would probably be used to dogs, so I doubt that dogs are prey.

The eagle owl would pose the biggest threat to rabbits and other pests. you got to remember, things are often exaggerated to get big reactions, how the stories are stretched depends on the direction you want the reaction to go

Atb, Mark

[/quote]
Thanks. It sounds as if they're escapees.
I found this amusing - “Killer owls which can attack dogs and deer .................."
Do they really take Deer ! [/quote]

They say that a large adult female EEO can catch and kill small/baby deer, but as mentioned before that is not their usual prey, they are much happier taking rabbits, hedgehogs etc.
Bob

I have heard EEO's will take a fox, but whether this is in a forced environment or natural one, I am not sure.

Hopefully someone with some knowledge /experience of hunting with eeo's will comment, my knowledge comes from a 30 year experienced falconer that breeds European eagle owls, I personally have never hunted with an eeo.

Hi Stu,

Welcome to the forum

I hope you enjoy it here.

when i take jester out lamping i use the lamp more for my benefit than his so i can see what (if anything) he might be off to chase.

i can usually tell just before he bates by his body language if he is off to chase and a couple times i have held on to his jesses as it was a fox he was after. Once i am sure he will take quarry by the head every time (or as sure as i can be ) i might slip him at fox but so far he just grabs the rabbit anywhere he can.

i have night vision rifle scope as well but to be honest the extra magnification and eye relief it has makes it pretty hard to use as a hand held monocular so am thinking about changing it for a lower mag monocular and just using a lamp with the air rifle

You'd be a brave man to slip a male EEO at fox, not saying it can't be done but there's too much at stake if it goes wrong. I suppose if you hunt the owl regularly it's gonna happen by mistake but I bet your arse will be going when it does.
Cheers
Bob

I need a holiday in Aberdeenshire I think, see how the pro works.