Two dogs have been killed by eagles in Västerbotten, Sweden, over two months, which is very unusual according to Michael Schneider, the predator officer at the County Administrative Board of Västerbotten. In January, a drever was killed by a white-tailed eagle outside Nordmaling. A month later, a whippet was killed and two other whippets were injured by a golden eagle.
Before these two attacks, there were only eight documented attacks on dogs registered in Västerbotten since 1999, two of which were fatal. Schneider says there have been a total of 58 eagle attacks on dogs in Sweden over 28 years, with Västerbotten having the most at 10. No clear explanation exists for the two fatal attacks in a short time, but Schneider notes that the eagle population has increased in recent decades and they see dogs as prey, even though there does not seem to be a lack of food.
Before these two attacks, there were only eight documented attacks on dogs registered in Västerbotten since 1999, two of which were fatal.
He adds that there is small game in these areas that eagles normally prefer as prey. A debate about protective hunting of eagles has occurred on social media, but Schneider does not believe it will happen, stating that protective hunting on eagles has never occurred in Sweden and such a decision would be made by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, not the county administrative board.
Schneider says there have been a total of 58 eagle attacks on dogs in Sweden over 28 years, with Västerbotten having the most at 10.
No clear explanation exists for the two fatal attacks in a short time, but Schneider notes that the eagle population has increased in recent decades and they see dogs as prey, even though there does not seem to be a lack of food.
He adds that there is small game in these areas that eagles normally prefer as prey.
Schneider does not believe it will happen, stating that protective hunting on eagles has never occurred in Sweden and such a decision would be made by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, not the county administrative board.