There are fears for the lives of children in Wiltshire after a bird of prey reportedly targeted a dog.
The bird is said to have swooped in an attempt to grab a small dog – which was on a lead – in New Road Park, Royal Wootton Bassett, yesterday (14 June).
The dog, a pomeranian cross chihuahua, was saved by its owner, who rushed to defend it.
The mother of the woman involved in the incident said the bird of prey, believed to be either a buzzard or red kite, circled before dropping and attempting to take the animal.
“It circled a couple of times then swooped but it couldn’t get the right angle”, she said. Adding that it “had [its] claws out ready to grab” the dog.
She continued: “If I didn’t say anything and it did attack another dog or person I would never forgive myself. I know they are beautiful birds but it is a bit scary.”
The local resident fears small pets in the area could be at risk but is equally worried about the risk to small children. She encouraged people not to feed the birds.
Bird experts have suggested that it is highly unlikely a red kite would attempt to take a dog, but it may attack anyone who approaches its nesting site.
In 2021, a toddler was attacked by a red kite in Oxfordshire after it attempted to take a biscuit.
In Buckinghamshire in 2016, a red kite left a three-year-old girl with deep cuts to the back of her head after targeting her at a children’s birthday party – probably in an attempt to grab food.
Whilst not a local organisation, the Chilterns Conservation Board has discouraged the feeding of red kites. The six reasons the trust gave not to feed the birds were:
1. Feeding encourages red kites to become bolder than they naturally would. They have sharp claws and a huge wingspan, so this could be threatening.
2. Feeding encourages high numbers of kites to gather in one area, impacting other wildlife.
3. The scraps of uncooked and cooked meat that people feed red kites don’t present a balanced, healthy diet.
4. Red kites can drop scraps of meat which is a health risk and attracts rats and vermin.
5. Feeding discourages red kites from expanding their range.
6. Red kites can feed and thrive successfully in their natural habitat without people’s assistance, despite it helping when they were first introduced.
