They don't give a hoot

Park visitors in a suburb of Vancouver, B.C. are being assaulted by young owls just learning to hunt.

Joggers are in particular peril because the owls will mistake bouncing hair or pony tails for a squirrel, one of their favourite food sources, she said. Anything dangly could draw an attack if the owl mistakes it for a smaller bird or a rodent.

The fact that humans seldom carry squirrels on their heads makes little difference to young owls, Day explained. "Barred owls are not the most brilliant of owls. And these ones are just learning."