Golden Eagles are apparently hard core! GRAPHIC

[Anansi]

I came across this video again and had to share. I was skeptical and did a little research, only to discover that golden eagles are indeed known for taking down much larger prey. This is due not only to their flesh-rending beaks, but also to the crushing strength of their talons. (Over 700 pounds per square inch, from what I've read!) And the ones in this video are specifically trained to take down wolves!
[ame="https://youtu.be/F_ZtiaYm1YY"]https://youtu.be/F_ZtiaYm1YY[/ame]

And then there is this: [ame="https://youtu.be/WY9IJGm_PTI"]https://youtu.be/WY9IJGm_PTI[/ame]

I just didn't think an eagle could be this powerful (or scary). If there are members who have knowledge about eagles, could you weigh in? And if you don't have specific knowledge, but find yourself as wide-eyed by these videos as I am, feel free to weigh in too!

 

[Mariar]

Neat videos...who knew?

 

[RavensGryf]

. Those are some BIG birds! It reminds me of prehistoric times. Like a Pterodactyl swooping in on their prey.
Poor goats, I felt sorry for them, but that's nature and the food chain. I can hardly believe a bird could fly through the air with the goat. I'd be curious to know how much the goat and the bird each weigh.

I've seen that Golden Eagle hunting before. I forgot what country it is. I guess they want the wolf pelts? Unbelievable. You know how big and formidable a wolf is!

 

[LeaKP]

Yes, my green cheek was sure he was a raptor ��. Bless him...

 

[SailBoat]

A couple of things:

The wolfs are not North America Wolfs, who are twice the size of the the Eastern Russian (not actual name) Wolfs in the video. Also, North American Wolfs hunt in packs.

The mountain goats are smaller than the North America Rams, but are about the size of farm goats. So, still a big lift.

The yearlings learn the method by watching their parents gravity killing the adult goats and go after the younger goats.

The Golden Eagle kills the adult wolf by breaking the spinal core in the neck. Since the bones in the goat's neck are thicker than the wolf's, the Eagles use gravity to to the hard work. The goats are alive when the Eagles pull them off the cliff's edge.

So, yes, a Golden Eagle can and do go after smaller Humans and clearly children! Fishing villages of North America, way up North, do not allow children outside alone during nesting season.

Bald Eagles are not as large, but can still do lots of damage to a child.

 

[Christinenc2000]

First time I have seen them hunt like that. Thank you for the video and other posters than you for the additional information. Amazing

 

[Allee]

Incredible videos! Thank you for this thread, Doc!

I had a rare glimpse of a bald eagle hunting prey near the Texas panhandle once, we pulled over and watched and saw one of them catch a small rodent. Nothing like the wolves and goats in the videos, but still breathtaking to see.

I saw a golden Eagle nest during a boat trip in Prince William Sound. The nest looked large and sturdy enough to accommodate two average sized humans. Majestic creatures.

 

[Taprock]

I'm fortunate that where we live they aren't unusual. I'm 10 miles out from the Straits of Mackinaw. They do a raptor count each spring. Over 300 GE have gone through this year. I've only seen one up close (100 yards) as it was attempting to grab a chicken. It didn't seem very intimidated by my jumping and screaming but it flew off.

 

[Brittany741]

Just watched a video recently of a poor tiny chihuahua picked up by a hawk. We have six tiny chihuahuas and I can't imagine. We have hawks on our property and because of that, our chihuahuas can't go outside [emoji45]