Flying owl warnings posted at parks after attacks

Flying owl warnings have been posted on trees at some Puget Sound area parks after attacks.

Darian Davis was out on a morning run in Sammamish when he saw a shadow. An owl with a wingspan of about 36 inches swooped in, attacked, then flew back to its nest.

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"As soon as I ducked, I got hit pretty hard, and I could feel the talons on the back of my head," he said. "I patted the back of my head and didn't see any blood at first."

Davis was attacked in mid-September, but fliers containing owl warnings have recently appeared at Pioneer Park in Mercer Island.

The city's natural resources manager said at least one barred owl swooped down toward someone at the park.

According to the natural resources manager, people are attacked when juvenile owls are looking to establish their territory in the area.

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