Danger to Scottish Cats and Dogs From Missing EagleAn eagle owl has gone missing in the Lothians, sparking fears it may attack cats and small dogs as it hunts for food.
The three-foot tall brown and white bird disappeared from his owner's garden in Bridgend, Linlithgow, at about 2pm yesterday. The bird, called Fergus, has not been fed for two days and police fear hunger will drive it to attack animals.
Bird experts warned the public not to approach the giant bird and to keep pets away from it.
Owner Chris Imlach, 34, said Fergus was in the garden ready for flying when he got loose.
Mr Imlach, a recovery driver, said the bird was one of the largest types of owl in the world and fairly strong - capable of lifting up the family dog.
He said: "It's not been fed in two days so will be quite hungry. He's lifted up my five stone Staffordshire Bull Terrier off the ground before.
"I'm worried about the bird and that if anyone goes near him he might lash out.
"We feed him frozen chicks and he goes after rabbits so he does eat live food.
"I'd be quite worried about cats and dogs if he was hungry."
Mr Imlach said Fergus, who has a 5ft wing span, was "good natured" but had to be handled with heavy duty leather gloves.
The father-of-four said he had reported the loss of the bird, which usually flew at around waist height, to the police and to the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Doreen Graham of the Scottish SPCA warned people to stay away from the bird and to keep their pets away from it.
She said: "People need to take care of small dogs and cats because these magnificent birds are birds of prey and in the wild would hunt small animals. I'd advise the public to stay away because they would scare it away - just alert the authorities.
"Any wild animal can be dangerous if approached as it requires special handling, best left to the experts."
Neil Fowler, of the Independent Bird Register, which supplies identification rings for 58,000 birds in the UK, said anyone who spotted the bird should phone them.
He said: "We supply rings to 13,000 keepers of birds and we will phone up our owners to look for it."
Mr Fowler said that should the bird remain missing, the register would inform local falconers, clubs and wildlife crime officers and put a notice in International Falconer magazine.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said: "We would appeal to anyone who sees this distinctive bird of prey to contact police straight away.
"It should not be approached by members of the public and people should not attempt to catch it themselves.
"This is a very large bird of prey and is capable of attacking small animals.
"It has not been fed in two days so it may be trying to source food."
Anyone with information should call police on 0131-311 3131.
