Eagle kills falconer - fact or urban legend?

[TMoritz]

I heard a story from a falconer the other day (stated as fact in front of 2 dozen people) that was suspect.

The claim is this: A year or so ago a golden eagle handled by a falconer in Scotland went into a fit and grabbed the falconer in the abdomen. The eagle punctured the falconer's liver and he died on the spot of internal bleeding.

The store seemed suspect for a number of reasons so I'd like to fact check this with the British folks on the list.

1. A little odd but not impossible that a raptor would grab the chest of a falconer. Aggression is usually thrust upon an appendage that can be grabbed and generally is associated with the perceived offensive action, but nonetheless it could be possible.

2. A rear halux talon would have to go in a tremendous distance to puncture the liver.

Does anyone have any information on this claimed incident?

The claim was made by long time falconer Greg Thomas at the Indiana Falconers Association summer picnic in August, 2007.

Regards,

Troy

[Stuart]

I heard a story from a falconer the other day (stated as fact in front of 2 dozen people) that was suspect.

The claim is this: A year or so ago a golden eagle handled by a falconer in Scotland went into a fit and grabbed the falconer in the abdomen. The eagle punctured the falconer's liver and he died on the spot of internal bleeding.

The store seemed suspect for a number of reasons so I'd like to fact check this with the British folks on the list.

1. A little odd but not impossible that a raptor would grab the chest of a falconer. Aggression is usually thrust upon an appendage that can be grabbed and generally is associated with the perceived offensive action, but nonetheless it could be possible.

2. A rear halux talon would have to go in a tremendous distance to puncture the liver.

Does anyone have any information on this claimed incident?

The claim was made by long time falconer Greg Thomas at the Indiana Falconers Association summer picnic in August, 2007.

Regards,

Troy

This is true its the same eagle that killed a 1000 fully grown sheep and carried them off to her nest

[Elly]

Never heard it. Heard one about someone getting grabbed in the jugular and surviving it. But as you say, so many stories around, no real knowing whats true and whats fisherman tales.

[Dave G]

i heard the same storie but it was a spar that did the damage :rolleyes: lol

[Hhaawwkkeerr]

Not heard this story,sounds like too much Jim Beam doing the talking.
I could of course be totally wrong.
The alternative version is that the eagle came from a single parent nest,the Father abondoning the nest at the crucial moment in the young eagles development.Having no Father figure to look up to the Eagle took to wearing a hoodie,drinking and causing trouble with the rest of the gang it had joined.
Having developed a habit requiring copious amounts of crack cocaine,house breaking and petty theft soon became normal.
Social services came to the nest once,then the eagle dropped off the radar.
It was only a matter of time before a fatality happened.The handler, in a misguided attempt to befriend,the eagle tried to feed it.The eagle,not used to such acts of kindness,lashed out with the tragic consequences that ensued.
I could also be totally wrong about this version of events as well!!

[Misty]

Not heard this story,sounds like too much Jim Beam doing the talking.
I could of course be totally wrong.
The alternative version is that the eagle came from a single parent nest,the Father abondoning the nest at the crucial moment in the young eagles development.Having no Father figure to look up to the Eagle took to wearing a hoodie,drinking and causing trouble with the rest of the gang it had joined.
Having developed a habit requiring copious amounts of crack cocaine,house breaking and petty theft soon became normal.
Social services came to the nest once,then the eagle dropped off the radar.
It was only a matter of time before a fatality happened.The handler, in a misguided attempt to befriend,the eagle tried to feed it.The eagle,not used to such acts of kindness,lashed out with the tragic consequences that ensued.
I could also be totally wrong about this version of events as well!!

I like this version best, it's more plausible:lol:

[FlameHairedFalconer]

I heard a story from a falconer the other day (stated as fact in front of 2 dozen people) that was suspect.

The claim is this: A year or so ago a golden eagle handled by a falconer in Scotland went into a fit and grabbed the falconer in the abdomen. The eagle punctured the falconer's liver and he died on the spot of internal bleeding.

The store seemed suspect for a number of reasons so I'd like to fact check this with the British folks on the list.

1. A little odd but not impossible that a raptor would grab the chest of a falconer. Aggression is usually thrust upon an appendage that can be grabbed and generally is associated with the perceived offensive action, but nonetheless it could be possible.

2. A rear halux talon would have to go in a tremendous distance to puncture the liver.

Does anyone have any information on this claimed incident?

The claim was made by long time falconer Greg Thomas at the Indiana Falconers Association summer picnic in August, 2007.

Regards,

Troy

Something like that would have been all over the news here (sensationalist press that we have) It hasnt therefore it is highly suspect.

Not heard this story,sounds like too much Jim Beam doing the talking.
I could of course be totally wrong.
The alternative version is that the eagle came from a single parent nest,the Father abondoning the nest at the crucial moment in the young eagles development.Having no Father figure to look up to the Eagle took to wearing a hoodie,drinking and causing trouble with the rest of the gang it had joined.
Having developed a habit requiring copious amounts of crack cocaine,house breaking and petty theft soon became normal.
Social services came to the nest once,then the eagle dropped off the radar.
It was only a matter of time before a fatality happened.The handler, in a misguided attempt to befriend,the eagle tried to feed it.The eagle,not used to such acts of kindness,lashed out with the tragic consequences that ensued.
I could also be totally wrong about this version of events as well!!

Ah the sad state of Eagle society today....lock em all up I say! :lol:

[FrootDog]

A liver laceration or puncture would not cause instant death; therefore I doubt it would be true.

[Goldie]

Hi Troy, this story is 100% fiction if the time line you mention is correct. I am in Scotland and know personally, or know of, just about everyone that is flying or handling eagles in Scotland. If there is someone i am not aware of, they will most certainly be known by one of the others and this incident would have been mentioned were it to be true. There have been instances where falconers have been seriously hurt in recent years by eagles but not to the extent of someone dieing as a direct result.

Jim

[Amews]

I heard a story from a falconer the other day (stated as fact in front of 2 dozen people) that was suspect.

The claim is this: A year or so ago a golden eagle handled by a falconer in Scotland went into a fit and grabbed the falconer in the abdomen. The eagle punctured the falconer's liver and he died on the spot of internal bleeding.

The store seemed suspect for a number of reasons so I'd like to fact check this with the British folks on the list.

1. A little odd but not impossible that a raptor would grab the chest of a falconer. Aggression is usually thrust upon an appendage that can be grabbed and generally is associated with the perceived offensive action, but nonetheless it could be possible.

2. A rear halux talon would have to go in a tremendous distance to puncture the liver.

Does anyone have any information on this claimed incident?

The claim was made by long time falconer Greg Thomas at the Indiana Falconers Association summer picnic in August, 2007.

Regards,

Troy

TMoritz,

I can't shed any light on this but its the flip side of the story we have in the UK of a Great Horned Owl killing a hunter in the US who was wearing a Davy Crocket Hat? Suspect they are both tall tales.

[MusketMad]

a friend of mine called sinbad was once carried off by a roc :D

[Harrisii]

it is almost true.
it wasnt Scotland and it wasn't a Goldie.

it was a thunderbird which took a native american Indian child and flew off him, puncturing the lung of a nearby dog X wolf which run to the aid of the child.

Indian Folklore has it the child returned years later with two feathers in his head-band riding on the back of said thunderbird.

chicacotto as he was known became the Indian god of feathered creatures. translated the name means virgil, ie: to be on the lookout.
or "eagle eyed".

this all occured on long island, long before the pioneers arrived and of course, then it was called chicka isla "tracy island.

best wishes, H.

[xxOWLxx]

i think it could happen if a fully grown golden eagle got ahold of the neck area and punctured somthing vital.but i dont think the abdomen would be the smartest place for the bird,with the intention to do damage,would strike. am i wrong?

[TLDWB]

Never heard of such a story before.

Tom

[MattyM]

if it was that goldie that 'kentishfalconry' has got. it could b true. coz that fing is HUGE!!!!!

[SpugHawk]

Not heard that one but can you tell me if this one is true a Great Horned owl killed some chap out walking in the woods with a Davey Crockett hat on, apparently it thought he was a six foot raccoon and took his head off

[MattyM]

Not heard that one but can you tell me if this one is true a Great Horned owl killed some chap out walking in the woods with a Davey Crockett hat on, apparently it thought he was a six foot raccoon and took his head off

hahaahahahahaahahahahahahaha:supz: :supz: :supz: :supz:

[Saker-Mad]

i have heard one about a guy who was walking thougth woods in canda with a hat made out of racoon fur when a great horned owl thought it was food and put its talons in his head....

[Andrew Connor]

it shows what an eagle can do in a rage

[W0dg3Cr3w]

The bird we catched by desert was grabbing for arm and head not in body.
The feet are very powerful might kill if got liver but no die when it happen
You no be able to move, die blood pressure go with liver wounds you no move would need medics to move you but could die if no get hospital in maybe some hours.

[Stuart]

there was an incident quite some years ago of a falconer attacked by a goldie lots of stitches to the head and i do believe the guy was in intensive care for quite some time, Emma Ford knows the full story.

[Harrisii]

lets face facts.
a goldie could theoretically kill a human easily.
no probs.

a crowned eagle could do it easily, a harpy could, etc, etc and i am sure it has possibly happened, (more in folk-lore than in reality), however, if we set off down that road an american kestrel could kill someone should the circumstances be right.

in fact, one of the most bizzar death stories i watched on TV was of a guy, (a millionaire) who used to ride a bike to work every day.
he was old fashioned and despite the millions prefered to work and ride a bike.

anyway, he was found dead by the side of a quiet country road, bike lying beside him.

after much confusion and puzzlement the cause of death was identified.
in his front wheel spokes was a cluster of pheasant feathers.

**** happens, eh!

i may be drunk but this is a true story.

[Gerry4292]

lets face facts.
a goldie could theoretically kill a human easily.
no probs.

a crowned eagle could do it easily, a harpy could, etc, etc and i am sure it has possibly happened, (more in folk-lore than in reality), however, if we set off down that road an american kestrel could kill someone should the circumstances be right.

in fact, one of the most bizzar death stories i watched on TV was of a guy, (a millionaire) who used to ride a bike to work every day.
he was old fashioned and despite the millions prefered to work and ride a bike.

anyway, he was found dead by the side of a quiet country road, bike lying beside him.

after much confusion and puzzlement the cause of death was identified.
in his front wheel spokes was a cluster of pheasant feathers.

**** happens, eh!

i may be drunk but this is a true story.

PMSL Just goes to show some birds never appreciate how much money you've got which is why i divorced my first wife.:lol: :lol:

[FlameHairedFalconer]

it shows what an eagle can do in a rage

Er - no, as its not true.


after much confusion and puzzlement the cause of death was identified.
in his front wheel spokes was a cluster of pheasant feathers.

**** happens, eh!

i may be drunk but this is a true story.

Dont know about it being a true story, but I hit a heron on my bike at about 40mph - it hurt! The heron wasnt available for comment....:shock:

[ScotFalconer]

I heard a story from a falconer the other day (stated as fact in front of 2 dozen people) that was suspect.

The claim is this: A year or so ago a golden eagle handled by a falconer in Scotland went into a fit and grabbed the falconer in the abdomen. The eagle punctured the falconer's liver and he died on the spot of internal bleeding.

The store seemed suspect for a number of reasons so I'd like to fact check this with the British folks on the list.

1. A little odd but not impossible that a raptor would grab the chest of a falconer. Aggression is usually thrust upon an appendage that can be grabbed and generally is associated with the perceived offensive action, but nonetheless it could be possible.

2. A rear halux talon would have to go in a tremendous distance to puncture the liver.

Does anyone have any information on this claimed incident?

The claim was made by long time falconer Greg Thomas at the Indiana Falconers Association summer picnic in August, 2007.

Regards,

Troy

hi i live is scotland and i know of a guy,he was a new kid in town,bit of a desperado he died listening to "the eagles" perforated eardrums and was driven insane.

[Rabbit Killer]

Nice to see some folk with a good sence of humour, some very quick witted people out there, keep it up people, the posts make interesting reading and a good laugh too.

[Talon]

the best one story i ever hered was
a trained bear used by a circus escaped.some were in one of the eastern block countrys. it was roming the woods when it came across a postman on
his bike doing his delivery rounds to the remote vilages.

the bear knock him of the bike chined him ,and then rode of on it lol
but was captcher later that day 20 miles away ;)


it sounds just as plauseable as the eagle story.:lol:

[Gary F]

Hi Troy, this story is 100% fiction if the time line you mention is correct. I am in Scotland and know personally, or know of, just about everyone that is flying or handling eagles in Scotland. If there is someone i am not aware of, they will most certainly be known by one of the others and this incident would have been mentioned were it to be true. There have been instances where falconers have been seriously hurt in recent years by eagles but not to the extent of someone dieing as a direct result.

Jim
hi jim
do you know a gary belching who lived in derbyshire and moved to scotland? was wondering if he still flys goldies up there,
thanks again for casting jacket
gary

[MitchellBrad]

That reminds me of what happened to a friend of mine's kid. He rode his bicycle to the top of a bluff figuring he was going to shoot a deer. Well he did but little did he know he'd hit it in the head knocking off it's antlers and knocking the buck out. Here's this excited kid with what he thought was a dead deer and no way to haul it home. It was only a small buck so he got the bright idea of tying it to his bicycle. He started heading home with the buck tied right in front of him and slumped over the handle bars. What happened next was unbelievable! About the time he gets to the road the buck suddenly wakes up and starts kicking. Somehow it got it's hind feet on the petals and began to pedal faster and faster. The kid is freaked out and didn't know what to do. Then he began to realize the buck was actually steering the bike. They were going faster and faster when they came up behind a car driving slowly down the road with the driver looking in the rear view mirror. That deer passed the car with it occupant's mouths wide open. He signaled with his right foreleg, got back into his lane then careened into the ditch. The buck got the rest of himself loose and bounded off. The kid just laid there unable to believe what had just happened and trying to catch his breath. The driver of the car pulled up to see if the kid was ok.

[MincaBird]

The only reason I can think of for why an eagle would grab the abdomen is if she were bating, swung around, and grabbed the first thing her feet came in contact with for stability. I can't see a grab just for stability getting deep enough to puncture the liver. And Frootdog is right, a puncture wound to the liver would have to bleed at least a couple hours, leaking out nasty toxins, before a guy would die.

But then really freaky things can happen.

I had a friend that was an EMT that told me once of an emergency he responded to where a guy stepped off a very high curb in downtown Seattle and instantly collapsed, dead. It was determined that he had stepped down at just the right angle with just the right force that the impact travelled right up his spine and pinched or severed the very thing (this was ten years ago, so I don't remember what) that could kill him instantly. Now I don't pretend to know human biology well enough, and that story could sound very suspect, but it came strait from the EMT that responded to the incident.

I would want to hear it from someone close to the guy, like a family member, close friend, or doctor, before believing the eagle story.

[FTPCharlie]

Not heard this story,sounds like too much Jim Beam doing the talking.
I could of course be totally wrong.
The alternative version is that the eagle came from a single parent nest,the Father abondoning the nest at the crucial moment in the young eagles development.Having no Father figure to look up to the Eagle took to wearing a hoodie,drinking and causing trouble with the rest of the gang it had joined.
Having developed a habit requiring copious amounts of crack cocaine,house breaking and petty theft soon became normal.
Social services came to the nest once,then the eagle dropped off the radar.
It was only a matter of time before a fatality happened.The handler, in a misguided attempt to befriend,the eagle tried to feed it.The eagle,not used to such acts of kindness,lashed out with the tragic consequences that ensued.
I could also be totally wrong about this version of events as well!!


PMSL!:-D

[Goldie]

hi jim
do you know a gary belching who lived in derbyshire and moved to scotland? was wondering if he still flys goldies up there,
thanks again for casting jacket
gary

Hi Gary, yes i know who you are referring to although i am not sure of the spelling "Belching". He wanted to buy an eagle i had imported from Austria but it was sold by the time he phoned (3yrs ago). He had other options so may well be flying one of them. He live in the north of Scotland

[Cesena]

My friend, some years ago, was training its first hawk, a male RT.He was speaking to the cellular with his mentor and he had the hawk on the fist.
He was distracted and held the hawk close to its face too much.
The hawk has clawed his lips and it has pierced it completely.
Fortunately the RT has left it immediately. The final result has been a hole in lips and much lost blood.

[Gary F]

Hi Gary, yes i know who you are referring to although i am not sure of the spelling "Belching". He wanted to buy an eagle i had imported from Austria but it was sold by the time he phoned (3yrs ago). He had other options so may well be flying one of them. He live in the north of Scotland
thanks jim,
just wondered if he was still flying them, or on here
gary

[BlueHawk]

I think this story might have just been a bit embellished as it has been passed on. It was actually me that was caught in the quick with a kestrel....

[Pearl]

thanks jim,
just wondered if he was still flying them, or on here
garyi know and have been hunting with gary balchin years ago great bloke last i heard he had hanna (female) owgan(not sure on spelling ) male and adler (again not sure on spelling ) male lol , ill have to give him a ring :supz:

[Vernon]

i dont think anybodies been killed yet by a Eagle. but with people imprinting them and not getting it right and with the price of them now. it will not be long before they are in the wrong hands then when one is lost it will cause a lot of trouble for falcony in general

you eagle breeders out there should put the prices up. to put the ********s off getting them.

[KiteTrainer]

i dont think anybodies been killed yet by a Eagle. but with people imprinting them and not getting it right and with the price of them now. it will not be long before they are in the wrong hands then when one is lost it will cause a lot of trouble for falcony in general

you eagle breeders out there should put the prices up. to put the ********s off getting them.

Thats for sure

[FredrickFogg]

you eagle breeders out there should put the prices up. to put the ********s off getting them.

Yeah, that should do it! We all know there aren't any rich ********s out there? LOL I am amazed at some of the things said on here! :lol: :lol:

Fred

[KiteTrainer]

I think some people get them without really knowing their capabilities, nor do they give any thought to what could happen should a malimprinted or badly trained bird get on the loose.

[Red Kite]

There are published cases of eagles killing people although these are of course very rare. Seton Gordon in his book "The Golden Eagle" (1955) in a discussion on falconry in central Asia states "It is said that if an eagle several times misses its stoop it becomes so angry it will sometimes fly at a man. On one occasion an eagle swooped at its master because he was wearing a cap of fox fur. The eagle's talons pierced an artery and the man died."

Peter Steyn in Birds of Prey of Southern Africa (1982) wrote. " One grisley item found on a nest in Zimbabwe by the famous wildlife artist D. M. Henry was part of the skull of a young African. That preying on young humans may very occasionally occur is borne out by a carefully authenticated incident in Zambia where an immature Crowned Eagle attacked a 20kg seven year old schoolboy as he went to school. It savagely clawed him on head, arms and chest, but he grabbed it by the neck and was saved by a peasant woman with a hoe, who killed it."

There was a recent case of a wild adult female Crowned Eagle in Kenya that killed a 5 year old child.

[Kennelre]

I must admit that I've got quite interested in this thread now...for what might be the facts as well as what's obviously the wit!!
So, I've spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for factual accounts on the net...not alot really, but this link might be of vague interest. There's a part two at the end of the blog..and comments from established falconers.

http://darrennaish.blogspot.com/2006/01/when-eagles-go-bad.html


...Rene.

[Perebrine]

I was told of someone who had an Eagle on display at some country fair, when asked if they are dangerous, said "No" then knelt down near the Eagle, which promptly bated & the back talon went his under chin, up through his tongue.
Don't know how true, I wasn't there.
john B

[EagleMan]

Actually, eagles can and sometime kill humans.
Harpy eagles and african crowned eagles see humans as prey, especially childrens.
Along side the numerous reports of children remains at african crowned eagle's aryes, the harpy eagle snach pretty often children of the amerindians that live in the Amazon area. There are even brazilian police documents that certified these facts...
On the other side there are some cases in Central Asia in wich berkuts kill their innexperienced owners.
There is also a case in wich an martial eagle killed in Sudan an 17 years young boy who just trapped the eagle and the eagle somehaw manage to free it's legs and grabbed the boy of his head and neck...

[Gary F]

i know and have been hunting with gary balchin years ago great bloke last i heard he had hanna (female) owgan(not sure on spelling ) male and adler (again not sure on spelling ) male lol , ill have to give him a ring :supz:
nice one mark
last i heard he was driving around the highlands with one on the front seat, cant rember who told me, but sounds true pmsl

[Dr. David Glynne Fox]

My concern here is that it has taken years to get eagle falconry accepted even by falconers, particularly in the UK. Such wild stories can only do harm, not only to eagle owners, but the sport of falconry in general. Have any of the aforementioned cases of eagles attacking children ever been properly verified? I would be surprised if they had.
It is to our everlasting shame that most wildlife fears man and rightly so. I spoke to the late David Reid Henry about the human infant skull in the Crowned Eagle eyrie, and even he was not sure how it came to be there. It could have been found as a dried up old skull (lion kill?) by the adults and simply used as nest material. Long shot I know, but there was absolutely no proof that the eagles killed the skull's owner. All it needs is for sensationalist newspapers to print this garbage and it then becomes fact!!! Result, the antis then start another campaign to ban the flying of such fine birds. I have flown eagles for more than forty years and apart from the odd scratch, I have had no problems. I received worse from a Goshawk which flew into my face whilst removing it from a kill.
As someone remarked earlier on this thread, I do worry about these birds geting into the wrong hands, they are not for everyone and they are far from being just big Harris Hawks. They need a lot of common sense and dedication from their handlers and yes, they are capable of inflicting deep wounds, but with proper care, this should not be a problem. Anyone new to eagles could do a lot worse than speak to someone who is experienced with these fascinating creatures.
David

[Dr. David Glynne Fox]

My concern here is that it has taken years to get eagle falconry accepted even by falconers, particularly in the UK. Such wild stories can only do harm, not only to eagle owners, but the sport of falconry in general. Have any of the aforementioned cases of eagles attacking children ever been properly verified? I would be surprised if they had.
It is to our everlasting shame that most wildlife fears man and rightly so. I spoke to the late David Reid Henry about the human infant skull in the Crowned Eagle eyrie, and even he was not sure how it came to be there. It could have been found as a dried up old skull (lion kill?) by the adults and simply used as nest material. Long shot I know, but there was absolutely no proof that the eagles killed the skull's owner. All it needs is for sensationalist newspapers to print this garbage and it then becomes fact!!! Result, the antis then start another campaign to ban the flying of such fine birds. I have flown eagles for more than forty years and apart from the odd scratch, I have had no problems. I received worse from a Goshawk which flew into my face whilst removing it from a kill.
As someone remarked earlier on this thread, I do worry about these birds geting into the wrong hands, they are not for everyone and they are far from being just big Harris Hawks. They need a lot of common sense and dedication from their handlers and yes, they are capable of inflicting deep wounds, but with proper care, this should not be a problem. Anyone new to eagles could do a lot worse than speak to someone who is experienced with these fascinating creatures.
David

[EagleMan]

My concern here is that it has taken years to get eagle falconry accepted even by falconers, particularly in the UK. Such wild stories can only do harm, not only to eagle owners, but the sport of falconry in general. Have any of the aforementioned cases of eagles attacking children ever been properly verified? I would be surprised if they had.
It is to our everlasting shame that most wildlife fears man and rightly so. I spoke to the late David Reid Henry about the human infant skull in the Crowned Eagle eyrie, and even he was not sure how it came to be there. It could have been found as a dried up old skull (lion kill?) by the adults and simply used as nest material. Long shot I know, but there was absolutely no proof that the eagles killed the skull's owner. All it needs is for sensationalist newspapers to print this garbage and it then becomes fact!!! Result, the antis then start another campaign to ban the flying of such fine birds. I have flown eagles for more than forty years and apart from the odd scratch, I have had no problems. I received worse from a Goshawk which flew into my face whilst removing it from a kill.
As someone remarked earlier on this thread, I do worry about these birds geting into the wrong hands, they are not for everyone and they are far from being just big Harris Hawks. They need a lot of common sense and dedication from their handlers and yes, they are capable of inflicting deep wounds, but with proper care, this should not be a problem. Anyone new to eagles could do a lot worse than speak to someone who is experienced with these fascinating creatures.
David

Partially I agree with your posting.
But there are documented facts that certified the attacks of crowned eagles and harpy eagles against childrens.
More than probably these eagles attack childrens beacuse of the childrens look alike monkeys, they posses small frame and theyr bodyes look like a monkey
(I'm not ironic or sarcastic here, these eagles are specialized primate hunters)
A child is small bodyed, and when he sit ,it look smaller for the eagle
And due to the childs reseblance with primates , these eagles see the children as natural prey.
Seriuous' I doubt about the skull remains from a lion meal that is carryed to the ayrie as a building material...
First, when a lion attack a human, the head , brain and skull are not a match for the lion jaw strenght...and if a lion attack a kid there are no remains....a children skull is not a Cape buffalo buffalo one to remain, untill the spotted hyaena eat it...
There are more than one reports about human remains at crowned eagle eyries, it may sound gory but since a female crowned is capable to kill an baboon, an human child is a much easyer sand nonresisting prey, especially a small one.
On the other side there are people who curently hunt witheh crowned eagles and even harpyes, and they certified about their birds gentle personality toward humans.
On the other fact, In central asian tradition of eagle hunting , there are several facts in wich berkuts kill their handlers.
Regarding to the falconer risk to be atacked by its eagle, I belive that tere is a little chance...
most of these accidents involved wrong imprinted birds, innexperienced falconers and , sometine an external cause.

[EagleMan]

Sorry for my english, I work too, in the same time with posting on IFF

[HawkEagle]

I am pretty sure that my crowned eagle will go after kids. There is something about this bird mind, she will go after anything that's her potential prey dogs, cats.

[Gary F]

Never heard it. Heard one about someone getting grabbed in the jugular and surviving it. But as you say, so many stories around, no real knowing whats true and whats fisherman tales.
heard of a bald eagle called maggie doing a few keepers , one as you say by the jugular,, think it was the falconer a fritton country park who told me,
claire might be able to say if hes was streching the truth, sure she worked with the bald eagle,

[WingedReaper]

i banged my head comeing out of an eagle averi .that bloody killed me had a bump for a week

[Murph]

i heard it was thats he was grabbed in the neck!! so it is going around at the moment!

[Lgthawk]

I guess anything can happen ? But most likely its not true. I kinda like the Thunder Bird story :D

[Dr. David Glynne Fox]

I am fully aware that several of the larger eagles have the potential to do a lot of damage. What I asked for was hard, factual proof that all these people have been killed by eagles. Until I actually see this, I am afraid that I remain more than highly sceptical of most of these claims. Most eagles shun man in the wild, yet I suppose it is not beyond the realms of possibility that if some small infant in Africa, or South America, Crowned and Harpy country respectively, was crawling around in the bush, then this could I suppose, trigger an attack response in one of these species. Trained Crowned and Harpy Eagles have already lost their fear of man and here again, an attack could well be possible, but there never seems to be any proof. Someone heard this, someone heard that and before long you get stories of eagles flying off with teenagers etc!! I have handled both of these species and am fully aware of their armament, but such wild stories, particularly without foundation, are damaging to eagle falconry as a whole. This is my point I am sure that if an eagle, trained or otherwise, actually killed anyone in the UK, the media would have a field day, and so far, I have seen nothing. I believe the people most at risk are those new to eagle falconry who are not aware of the power of these birds, those of us who know better, strive to keep our unprotected parts clear of those great feet.
This is all I am saying.
David

[HawkEagle]

Eagles will never see their handler as prey so they will never go for a kill. However they do attack but that's for other reasons, once they made their point they move away.

[EagleMan]

I am fully aware that several of the larger eagles have the potential to do a lot of damage. What I asked for was hard, factual proof that all these people have been killed by eagles. Until I actually see this, I am afraid that I remain more than highly sceptical of most of these claims. Most eagles shun man in the wild, yet I suppose it is not beyond the realms of possibility that if some small infant in Africa, or South America, Crowned and Harpy country respectively, was crawling around in the bush, then this could I suppose, trigger an attack response in one of these species. Trained Crowned and Harpy Eagles have already lost their fear of man and here again, an attack could well be possible, but there never seems to be any proof. Someone heard this, someone heard that and before long you get stories of eagles flying off with teenagers etc!! I have handled both of these species and am fully aware of their armament, but such wild stories, particularly without foundation, are damaging to eagle falconry as a whole. This is my point I am sure that if an eagle, trained or otherwise, actually killed anyone in the UK, the media would have a field day, and so far, I have seen nothing. I believe the people most at risk are those new to eagle falconry who are not aware of the power of these birds, those of us who know better, strive to keep our unprotected parts clear of those great feet.
This is all I am saying.
David

Sorry, I don't know anything about the UK cases.
Otherwise, your observation are accurate and corect
Regards

[EagleMan]

Eagles will never see their handler as prey so they will never go for a kill. However they do attack but that's for other reasons, once they made their point they move away.

Tottaly correct !

[Richard]

i banged my head comeing out of an eagle averi .that bloody killed me had a bump for a week

Dont you just hate that :evil:

[Gary F]

heard of a bald eagle called maggie doing a few keepers , one as you say by the jugular,, think it was the falconer a fritton country park who told me,
claire might be able to say if hes was streching the truth, sure she worked with the bald eagle,
when i say doing, i mean injury, this baldie always footed neck, falconer reckoned,,

[Kevin Massey]

you eagle breeders out there should put the prices up. to put the ********s off getting them.


Know where you are coming from.....but there are total ********s with piles of cash also....they have the main buy now think later attitude....but a price increase would narrow things down a bit

[Fudge100]

i'm finding this thread interesting:grin: never heard stories of anyone been killed by an eagle, but i remember a few months back hearing on the scottish news.(i think it was north tonight) a report about a man out jogging in the aberdeenshire area being attacked by a common buzzard on several occasions, can't remember where it nailed him but it did draw blood. ended off he had to avoid the area. i know this is slightly off topic to what is being discussed. as the bird if i remember correctly was only protecting it's nest or it's youngsters but it does make one think.

[Gary F]

I believe the people most at risk are those new to eagle falconry who are not aware of the power of these birds, those of us who know better, strive to keep our unprotected parts clear of those great feet.
This is all I am saying.
David
Totally agree with you David,
like your posts on eagles,and enjoyed your book garden eagles,looking forward to follow up,
just a thought,have you ever thought of writing a book or doing a dvd/film about the training and handling of these great birds?
You know yourself most books wrote by so called eagle falconers theres a lot of fiction in the chapters,,,
GARY,,

[AlexB]

I heard a story last year out here in germany about a guy who was out picking mushrooms who was attacked by a Goldie being hunted nearby, apparently when help got to the man the Goldie had him around the back of the head after attacking him from behind. By the time they were able to get the bird of him it had started pulling hair and skin of his scalp.

Don't know whether its true but it came from several relaible people.

ATB

Alex