‘I felt talons on my head.’ Woman says she was attacked by an owl while running in WA
In her 15 years of running, Kara Stender said she has never quite had an encounter like the one she had last week.
Stender, who had been training for the Iron Horse Half Marathon, started her usual four-mile run through Soaring Eagle Regional Park in Sammamish, Washington at about 6:35 a.m. on Aug. 15. She usually runs with a neighbor, but on this particular morning, she was alone.
The 55-year-old then saw something from the corner of her eye.
“I saw a flash of large wings. And then, I felt talons on my head,” Stender told McClatchy News.
Stender said she had been dive-bombed by an owl.
“I yelled like no one would believe. I was just really scared,” Stender said. “I don’t really know what was going through my head. My instinct was just to run faster and get out of there.”
So, Stender doubled down on her pace and ran, eventually finishing her four-mile run. She wasn’t bothered again.
When Stender got home, she checked herself for any injuries.
“It (the owl) didn’t pierce my scalp,” Stender said.
Owl attacks on humans are “generally rare,” according to Forest Wildlife.
“Adult owls tend to be most aggressive during breeding season, when their hormones are high and they are attempting to protect mates and young,” the organization said.
In some instances, owls may dive-bomb for defensive reasons, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“Most aggressive behavior from owls (barred owls and great horned owls are the most often reported) is motivated by defense of their territory or young, or their search for handouts,” the wildlife agency said.
To avoid attracting an owl’s attention, the agency advises staying away from nesting areas “until the young are flying.” If you can’t avoid walking past a nest, “wave your arms slowly overhead to keep the birds at a distance.”
Lastly, you can wear protective gear, such as a hat or helmet, or carry an umbrella, the agency advises.
For Stender, she said that extra layer of protection in the future will be her running mate.
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 4:00 PM with the headline "‘I felt talons on my head.’ Woman says she was attacked by an owl while running in WA."
