Second Dog Killed by Eagle in Västerbotten: Hunters Warned as Attacks Rise

A second dog has been confirmed killed by an eagle in Västerbotten County within weeks, prompting warnings to hunters and pet owners across northern Sweden. The latest victim was a whippet belonging to breeder Antti Silventoinen in Tavelsjö, Umeå Municipality.
The incident marks the second confirmed eagle attack on dogs in the county this season. Recently, hunter Anders Johansson lost a drever to a white-tailed eagle in the coastal area south of Nordmaling, with the County Administrative Board confirming the cause of death.

🐕 Whippet Attack Details Emerge
Silventoinen's partner had taken five dogs out when they ran into a wooded area to play. When she returned home to fetch a scooter, four dogs came back—two with visible injuries. One dog, a pregnant female, remained missing despite intensive searching.
A neighbor eventually discovered the body. "She was lying under a small spruce tree with injuries to her back and neck, and had been eaten on the sides," Silventoinen reported. The County Administrative Board has confirmed the whippet was killed by an eagle.
Silventoinen believes the two dogs that returned with injuries may have sustained them while either defending themselves against the eagle or attempting to protect the pregnant female in the pack.

🦅 Eagle Territory and Behavior
"The area is adjacent to farms and villages, but there are confirmed golden eagle territories in the region," said Jonas Gustafsson, handler at the County Administrative Board. "Additionally, young golden eagles roam over wide areas at this time of year while searching for their own territories."
Sweden is home to approximately 1,500 golden eagles, depending on counting methods. The species remains protected under Swedish law and may only be hunted when specifically authorized. Golden eagles are more prevalent in the northern parts of the country.
With their exceptionally powerful talons, golden eagles are capable of hunting larger animals, including young deer, reindeer, and fully-grown foxes. This hunting capacity makes small to medium-sized dogs vulnerable when in open terrain without supervision.

📊 Eagle Attack Statistics and Compensation Cases
Historical data shows eagle attacks on dogs, while rare, do occur with some regularity in northern Sweden. In 2013, a dog owner was awarded SEK 16,000 in damages by a county administrative board after her chihuahua was killed by a golden eagle. This precedent establishes that compensation may be available for verified eagle predation on domestic dogs.
Research on predator attacks in Sweden indicates that golden eagles represent a documented threat to small livestock and pets in northern regions. Annual records track attacks on sheep for bears, golden eagles, lynx, and wolves across Sweden, with eagles maintaining consistent predation patterns.
The increase in reported incidents may correlate with growing eagle populations recovering from historical persecution. However, some studies suggest golden eagle populations in Norrland have declined over the past 15 years in nesting areas, potentially driving birds to expand hunting ranges into human settlements.

🛡️ Protective Measures for Dog Owners
Following the attacks, Silventoinen and his partner received advice to install eagle scare devices around their property and dress dogs in protective clothing when outdoors. "It might make the eagle not consider them as possible prey," Silventoinen said.
The farm houses ducks, chickens, and peacocks, and Silventoinen believes the eagle has taken young peacocks from the property. "We first thought it might have been a hawk here. But two of the birds we haven't found at all, and according to the County Administrative Board, only eagles have the strength to carry away a bird of that size."

💔 Emotional Impact on Owners
For Silventoinen and his partner, the incident has left deep emotional scars. "My partner is devastated, and I get cold chills when I see pictures of the dog," he said. The whippet breeding operation has been affected, with the deceased dog being a pregnant female intended for their breeding program.
The County Administrative Board continues to monitor eagle territories throughout Västerbotten. Hunters and dog owners are advised to maintain vigilance, particularly during periods when young eagles disperse to establish new hunting grounds. Small breed dogs and hunting breeds that range freely in open terrain face elevated risk in confirmed eagle territory zones.