Massive eagle on the loose has pet owners living in fear
Police tell pet owners to watch their animals as Nikita the eagle terrorises Yorkshire

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
YORKSHIRE'S rabbits, hamsters and small dogs are living in fear after a sea eagle the "size of a small glider" escaped from its trainer, the Daily Mirror reports.
Nikita, who has an eight-foot wingspan, is capable of carrying off small dogs in her talons, experts say. The bird went missing on Saturday during a training session in "blustery conditions", the paper reports.
The bird's trainer, Chris O'Donnell, believes the Steller's sea eagle may have been blown off course.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"She's massive - like a small glider," O'Donnell said after police issued a warning to pet owners to keep a close eye on their animals when they are outdoors.
O'Donnell insists his bird is "very tame" and poses no threat to people. "You could walk up to her and almost pet her if you wanted to," he told the Mirror.
But North Yorkshire police say that's not a good idea and have advised people not to try picking Nikita up.
The giant predator, who is ten years old, has not been seen since she took off on Saturday morning above her home in Brackenbottom, North Yorkshire.
The Mirror says the birds, which are native to east Russia, are able to pick up dogs and young seals. Their normal diet in captivity includes frozen pigeons, squirrels and rabbits.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Firefighters save confused delivery robots
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
'Rates have peaked'
Today's Newspapers A round-up of the headlines from the UK front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 22 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
Reader favourites
Speed Read A selection of short but sweet features from across The Week magazine
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published