Aggressive Owl Attacks Joggers, Gains Twitter Fans

The tale of an aggressive owl attacking users of the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda has 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.

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

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

Because people are running through my home. As humans, surely you can understand this response. https://t.co/oa2kctJdXu

— MoCo Owl (@moco_owl) October 14, 2015

»Screenshot of Montgomery County Parks sign warning of aggressive owl, from WUSA

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

I consider it rude to catch mice in other people’s homes. As for the lonely owl: send a pic. Owls have no @Tinder https://t.co/LTPCtH1LWu

— MoCo Owl (@moco_owl) October 14, 2015

A reporter was told to bring rodents to pacify the angry owl, while the Parks Department told the owl he’s not invited to a Nocturnal Neighbors festival on Friday since he can’t behave.

The owl even weighed in on the two-day closing of Rockville Pike in Bethesda because of a water main break.

Perfect, there will almost sure to be some fish stranded for @NIH_Bear and me. https://t.co/rGYePkHmqu

— MoCo Owl (@moco_owl) October 15, 2015

»Screenshot of Montgomery County Parks owl warning sign from WUSA