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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to wonder if a seagull could really steal a chihuahua????

267 replies

CrocodilesCry · 26/07/2019 15:38

So people are saying on social media that the chihuahua "plucked" from a garden down south wasn't actually taken by a seagull at all.

Searches have been called off. I've read people saying that the dog had actually been sold and this was a worst ever cover story Shock

So what does everyone think really happened? Could a seagull take a 2kg dog?

PS, I did look for other posts about this and couldn't find any. Apols if this is a TAAT or anything's been deleted for any reason.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
AutumnCrow · 26/07/2019 15:41

I doubt if even a full grown herring gull could lift a 2kg live dog in its gob.

LuckyLou7 · 26/07/2019 15:42

I live by the sea and seagulls are big strong birds. But picking up an actual living breathing dog? I have a yorkie, not much bigger than a chihuahua, and there's no way a seagull would attempt to steal him. Icecreams and chips are far more enticing.

FlibbertyGiblets · 26/07/2019 15:42

Nope.

evilharpy · 26/07/2019 15:42

I have seen a seagull steal an entire kebab from someone’s hand in St Ives. A chihuahua is about the size of a kebab isn’t it?

IAskTooManyQuestions · 26/07/2019 15:43

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_black-backed_gull

These feckers are the size of a small terrier - It is 64–79 cm (25–31 in) long with a 1.5–1.7 m (4 ft 11 in–5 ft 7 in) wingspan and a body weight of 0.75–2.3 kg (1.7–5.1 lb) - they look like gulls on steroids. Very common, and yes I'd say they could pick up a small dog

TheFlis12345 · 26/07/2019 15:43

When I heard this I didn’t believe it for a second. Birds of prey (which are much stronger) have taken things like guinea pigs before but no way a seagull could lift a small dog.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 26/07/2019 15:45

A chihuahua is about the size of a kebab isn’t it?

Errm no they are not even remotely comparable how big are your kebabs.

I doubt very much a gull could pick up and carry off a dog, especially if the dog was moving and struggling to get free.

Fuma · 26/07/2019 15:45

I blame the heat. Loads of bullshit stories at the moment. Just add dog killing gulls to the list.

heronontoast · 26/07/2019 15:45

I would say no. Their beaks are shaped to take fish and crabs etc.

IceIceCoffee · 26/07/2019 15:45

The boyfriend who was the one home with the dog has remained silent. To me that speaks volumes

RightOnTheEdge · 26/07/2019 15:46

I wondered about this. Some Seagulls are huge though.
I did read an article about it yesterday and an "expert" said a seagull could have swallowed the dog whole! Shock

notsodimwit · 26/07/2019 15:47

I live in rural yorkshire and a few years ago saw a large bird of pray type bird ( font know the different types of birds so no idea what it was Confused) take a large rabbit easily the size of a small dog Sad

Wellmet · 26/07/2019 15:47

Does anyone have a link?

Funniest thread title ever but no idea what you are talking about Grin

Nesssie · 26/07/2019 15:47

Seagull killing and swallowing a rabbit whole.

MyFokMarelize · 26/07/2019 15:48

No - I don't think so. Seagulls have webbed feet so whereas I could maybe believe it of a large bird of prey I simply can't believe it of a seagull.

Pjsandbaileys · 26/07/2019 15:48

Birds if prey lift small mammals with the feet, seagulls are webbed and the beaks would not be strong enough to I would call bs on this one!!

heronontoast · 26/07/2019 15:48

Birds of prey, such as buzzards, use their feet - they have talons so they can carry small animals. Herring gulls use their beaks to grab food.

transformandriseup · 26/07/2019 15:48

I live near St Ives and have seen seagulls the size of cats take a whole ice cream or half a pasty but I don’t think they could take a small dog

PancakeAndKeith · 26/07/2019 15:49

I’ve seen some people arguing that a bird of prey can take rabbits etc but seem to forget that a seagull will be picking things up with its beak, not claws.

I would be very surprised but seagulls are bastards. One went for DH the other day because he walked too close to its young.

jaseyraex · 26/07/2019 15:49

Some gulls can swallow rabbits whole so depending on the type of gull it was then I'd say it's possible! Although probably not of a bog standard seagull.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 26/07/2019 15:49

@evilharpy 😂😂😂

A decent sized kebab 👌🏻

JaneJeffer · 26/07/2019 15:50

Thread title made me think of this Grin

I'd say a seagull could take a chihuahua no problem.

Corneliusmurphy · 26/07/2019 15:50

Chinny reckon... Grin

Are seagulls capable of carrying things anywhere with webbed feet? They usually hold things with their beak I don’t see them managing a dog - however small, surely at most it would have been dropped nearby?

I remember a Yorkie being attacked and killed by a group of seagulls as they were nesting nearby, this would be more likely wouldn’t it?

Nesssie · 26/07/2019 15:51

They also have incredible sharp beaks and are actually ferocious predators.

Whether or not the chihuahua story is true, it could be possible.
And at the end of the day, there is a poor woman out there who has lost her dog.