The Capital Crescent Trail owl appeared to take a nearly two-week break from swooping down on unsuspecting joggers before renewing its strikes Tuesday.
Bill Hamilton, the principal natural resources specialist for Montgomery Parks, said in an email his office received three reports Tuesday about the barred owl attacking trail users. He said they were similar to the original reports from earlier this month that led the department to post a sign on the trail warning about the presence of an “aggressive owl.”
The owl is still in place along the trail between River Road and Dorsett Avenue in Bethesda and is possibly moving a little north, Hamilton noted. However, after Bethesda Beat first reported Oct. 13 the owl’s existence and its penchant for striking joggers from behind, there were no reports of strikes for nearly two weeks until Tuesday, according to Hamilton.
In the latest incidents the bird swooped down aggressively, sometimes striking the individual and also twice stealing hats, according to Hamilton.
“Most of these have occurred during early morning [and] late evening, but we have had a report or two that these are not uncommon during daylight,” Hamilton wrote.
After the initial report was published, Bethesda Beat readers shared their own stories about the owl, including one from a man who took a photo shortly after the owl reportedly stole a headlamp off his head and one from a Chevy Chase resident who saw her friend’s head “surrounded by wings.”
The sign posted near the owl’s territory says the owl may be mistaking runners’ hair or ponytails for prey.
“Owls will defend their territory from anything, and have been known to strike at people,” the sign reads.
