Alice Marie Warner has witnessed what she called the horrifying sights of two eagles attacking cats in her neighbourhood.
"Over the last 10 days, three cats, an orange tabby, a grey and white and a black and white cat, have been carried off by these young eagles," said Warner, who lives right across from the Anchor Inn on the Island Highway. "Same goes for my dad, he saw it too. The eagles went right over our house and then flew across to the rocks on the beach in front of the Anchor Inn and dropped the cats."
Residents between 1st and 4th avenues in Campbell River are being warned about two young and brazen eagles in the area.
"They are not afraid at all," she said. "We had one land on our deck and they are looking for something to go after."
Over the last 10 days Warner said that cats in the neighbourhood have gone missing. "I have seen them in the claws of these animals. I was heartbroken to see this.
“Just the thought of one's companion being grabbed by huge talons is not a nice thought. Listening to the cats' meows made me want to cry. Seeing it fly past the Anchor Inn I knew the cat had no chance of living from being dropped onto rocks from 50 to 70 feet in the air."
Cathy Koropecki Catterall said a friend of hers also witnessed the attacks. "A friend of mine was on her way to work in Campbell River the other morning and she witnessed an eagle swoop down in a ditch and grab what she thought was a small cat or a bunny.
"Very disturbing that's for sure.
"I am glad we don't let our little one (cat) outside unless she has a leash on her."
According to eagle experts, a bald eagle capturing a cat is not impossible, but highly unusual.
Their main diet is fish, but they are opportunistic and will eat squirrels, ducks, seagulls, turtles and Canada geese. They will also feast on carcasses, including deer.
