Owl Attacks Rabbit Trapper's Face

by
posted on February 28, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (14)

Kevin O'Neil of Nova Scotia can confirm that owl's do in fact have large talons.

He was en route to check his rabbit snares when he spotted a barred owl sitting in a tree. O'Neil says he "talked" to it. I have to wonder what he said, given what transpired 30 minutes later.

"On the way back to my truck carrying a couple of rabbits, a barred owl swooped down and struck me in the face," he told Nova News Now. “First it knocked me over in the snow but it didn’t go for the rabbits. It went right at my face. The pictures tell the rest—it was pretty freaky.”

Pictures of O'Neil's bloodied face are available here and here.

I have to say, the Canadian wilderness is not without its perils, but this is the first owl-on-trapper attack of which I'm aware.

H/T The Outdoor Pressroom

Latest

Sierra New For 2026 Bullets
Sierra New For 2026 Bullets

Sierra Bullets Announces 15 New Products for 2026

Sierra Bullets has announced its 2026 new product lineup. Beginning in early 2026, Sierra will roll out three waves of new bullets ...

Benelli Expands SBE3 A.I. Sub-Gauge Lineup for 2026

Benelli USA has announced new 28-ga. A.I. models with cold-weather controls, and updates to the SBE3's camouflage. Why? Because it looks cool. 

Hardware Review: Benelli NOVA 3

Although the Nova 3 might be unorthodox in construction, the controls will be familiar to nearly anybody who’s used a pump-action shotgun before.

First Look: POF PST-7 Suppressor

Patriot Ordnance Factory Inc. (POF-USA) has announced the release of its the PST-7 suppressor, a .30-caliber can engineered to deliver effective signature reduction with extremely low back pressure.

New for 2026: Remington Hard Cast Handgun Ammo

Remington Ammunition has released its Hard Cast handgun ammunition line, engineered for deep penetration and reliable performance when protection from dangerous game is the priority.

New For 2026: Weatherby Capra

This latest Mark V bolt-action rifle from Weatherby is poised to be the company's lightest ever, with a starting weight of just 4 pounds.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.