'Attack Owl' Striking Joggers Captured on Video

»Photo and video from Montgomery Community Media via YouTube

Montgomery County Parks officials confirm that the aggressive owl attacking users of the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda is a young barred owl, even capturing video of the culprit.

The infamous owl has even spawned a comic Twitter account demanding rodents for safe passage.

The barred owl has staked its turf along the trail just north of River Road and has been striking individuals from behind, a Montgomery County Parks official told Bethesda Beat. Signs are now up warning trail users of the owl, which is likely a younger bird staking out its territory.

SEE ALSO: Aggressive Owl Attacks Joggers, Gains Twitter Fans

At least three joggers out on trail either dusk or dawn have been hit from behind by the flying predator, reports WUSA.

“We think it is a juvenile that is trying to find new habitat to take up residence and make a home,” Bill Hamilton with Montgomery County Parks told Montgomery Community Media.

Almost all of the cases have been when it’s dark, at sunset or just before sunrise, just north of River Road. Avoiding the trail at those times should minimize further owl attacks.

Warning signs up along the trail say the young owl may mistake a runner’s swaying ponytail as prey.

The MoCo Owl Twitter account has taken a tongue-in-cheek approach to the feathered furor. The Twitter profile says: “I eat mice and regurgitate pellets. In between, I protect my turf from joggers.”

And on Friday the owl took issue with news reports labeling it as “aggressive.

On Twitter the owl posted: “ So now I’m the “Aggressive Owl” @ElvingElizabeth? Where’s the nuance? Where’s my side of the story? ”