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Barred owls attacking people in Seattle-area parks

Barred owls have been swooping down on people in Seattle-area parks.

Published: Nov. 10, 2012 at 9:24 a.m. PSTUpdated: Nov. 10, 2012 at 10:07 a.m. PST
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Barred owls have been swooping down on people in Seattle-area parks.

Mary Welborn, a ranger at Bridle Trails State Park in Kirkland, said people have been clawed enough to draw blood in a handful of incidents.

King County closed parts of the Soaring Eagle regional park in Sammamish because of similar attacks.

The state Fish and Wildlife Department said the owls are young ones that are territorial about new nesting spots.

Rangers said the owls seem to target people wearing headphones and women wearing their hair in ponytails.

The Associated Press

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