Pollard’s timeline shows that Kathleen Peterson had been drinking wine with her husband by the backyard pool at night, and then headed through the house and into the front yard for reasons unknown. It is lurid, tinged with drugs and alcohol, replete with an ongoing extramarital affair with a prostitute, and soaked in blood—lots of blood. "So the owls are desperate for food and nothing is running around for them to eat.". Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. If the culprit was an intruder, the finger points to the Barred Owl, a common species in and around Durham. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology notes that an owl weighing less than a pound can pounce on a mouse with force equivalent to 150 times the weight of the rodent. What's more, the raptors are known to dive-bomb humans when they feel threatened, almost always targeting the head. In recent years, owls have attacked humans in Seattle’s Discovery Park, Lake Stevens, Whidbey Island and Anacortes. The Great Horned Owl is one type of owl that has a particularly bad reputation for attacking humans. Darrow and Klinkosum are seeking dismissal of the case with prejudice, which would protect Peterson from further charges. “When you look at her injuries, they do appear consistent with being made by an owl’s talons,” Peterson’s defense attorney Mary Jude Darrow tells Audubon. Guillaume Souvant/AFP/Getty Images Some of the attacks … You don't have to live in the middle of the woods to see an owl. Great-horned owl attacks on humans are not common, but they are well documented. Davis also points out that the victim would have been taken by surprise because the shape of an owl’s feathers—serrated on one side to cut through the air, and fringed along the other edge—make it silent in flight. They have a wingspan that can reach nearly five feet long, and their talons have a force equivalent to the bite of a large dog. A crime scene photo shows her with her neck bent severely to the left, her head resting on the bottom stair, and her body splayed on the floor in a massive pool of blood. In the past few weeks, owls have attacked humans or pets in Atlanta on at least three separate occasions. If a 175-pound human were struck with the same intensity, it would feel like being hit by a 13-ton truck. After all of this, while buzzed on wine and pills, she climbed the stairs, presumably en route to the master bedroom. The first attack in the recent streak in Atlanta happened just days before Christmas. When owls attack … humans Originally published November 15, 2006 at 12:00 am Updated May 8, 2007 at 2:13 pm In October 1997, I received the first … She based her decision on the shape and placement of the victim’s wounds (a match to how the owl's talons would strike), the timing of the attack (in December, when owls are mating and highly territorial), the presence of the tiny feather (owl feet are covered with them), and the force of the impact. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. The Owl Theory essentially posits that a Barred Owl attacked Peterson, got entangled in her hair, and inflicted serious injuries, including the removal of part of her scalp, which triggered a series of events that led to her death after falling down a flight of stairs. Related: Bizarre Amazon Rainforest Bird Species Discovered to Be Extremely Rare Hybrid, Related: Frigid Temperatures Are Causing Iguanas in Florida To Fall From Trees. Bald Eagle. The birds begin nesting in the winter, and after attacks in Texas, the Midland Reporter-Telegraph once warned readers that “the adults are very protective of the nest and the area around it and have been known to attack human passing by. The birds begin nesting in the winter, and after attacks in Texas, the Midland Reporter-Telegraph once warned readers that “the adults are very protective of the nest and the area around it and have been known to attack human passing by. Spread the word. We asked the experts if it’s possible. An owl flies during a performance at the Zooparc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, central France, on April 14, 2017. If Peterson’s team succeeds in having the case dismissed on Monday, the sordid tale will end, and the Owl Theory will remain just that—a theory. An owl flies during a performance at the Zooparc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, central France, on April 14, 2017. In 2015, Portland, Oregon, newspapers reported at least four barred owl attacks on humans. In a new book, photographer Paul Bannick brings his wide-eyed subjects to life through rare and inspiring snapshots. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. Evidence A: The unique orientation and sharpness of a Barred Owl's talons make them a plausible match to the deep wound marks found on murder victim Kathleen Peterson's scalp. Owls are also currently preparing for mating season, which means their hormone levels are up and they're more inclined to keep a close eye on their territory. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. The victims of those strikes, which earned the bird(s) the name “Owlcapone,” suffered from multiple half-inch talon cuts. "I'm sure many of the rats and mice have died from the cold temperature," Haig said. Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact Us. "The majority of owls don't make it through their first year as they learn to hunt and survive in their surroundings," Betuel told Newsweek via email. At least four owl attacks have been documented in recent weeks on English Camp’s Bell Point Loop Trail, said Brandon Cadwell of the National Park Service, which manages the park.
2020 owl attacks on humans