1 of 2
SAVANNAH SCHMIDT
(L to R) Matt Grainger and Haley Flanery pose with their "owl-ways stay on guard" sign at the scene of the owl attacks on Lakeshore Trail on Oct. 1, 2024. The pair wish to promote awareness of the danger of the bird to runners and walkers on the trail. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
2 of 2
Starnes Digital
(L to R) Matt Grainger and Haley Flanery pose with their "owl squad" tshirts at the scene of the owl attacks on Lakeshore Trail on Oct. 1, 2024. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Homewood runners and walkers cherish the natural haven of Shades Valley Greenway, known as the Lakeshore Trail. Yet, what happens when nature gets too close?
An owl swooped down as Haley Flanery and her friend Jason Smith were running the trail parallel to University Park Place on Sept. 10 at roughly 4:45 a.m. Its target? Jason’s hat.
The pair posted on Facebook to see if anyone had encountered the hat thief. More than 20 people responded to the post offering similar past experiences. Since then, more people have reported attacks between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m.
Matt Grainger, perhaps one of the first victims of the feathered fiend about a year ago, connected with Flanery to share his story.
Grainger and Flanery, now owl attack professionals, met on the trail to share their experiences and advice. In the following video, the pair seeks to promote awareness about the dangers of owl attacks.
Then, after weeks of wondering about the owl's species, Homewood residents matched a face to the feathered hat thief.
1 of 4
The Lakeshore Owl, photographed by runner Swede Umbach, on Sept. 26, 2024.
2 of 4
The Lakeshore Owl, photographed by runner Swede Umbach, on Sept. 26, 2024.
3 of 4
The Lakeshore Owl, photographed by runner Swede Umbach, on Sept. 26, 2024.
4 of 4
The Lakeshore Owl, photographed by runner Swede Umbach, on Sept. 26, 2024.
Swede Umbach ran on Lakeshore Trail on Sept. 26 and was attacked by the owl twice at around 5:30 am. Similar to the attacks detailed by Haley Flanery and Matt Grainger in their interview, the owl swooped down onto Umbach along the trail near the first bridge connecting University Park Place to Lakeshore.
The red brackets show the location of the owl attack against Umbach at about 5:30 am on September 26.
On Umbach's Strava, it shows that he took the owl-free detour in front of the Daxko building and alongside Samford's track on his way back to the car. Flanery recommended this route if you have any hesitation about the owl attacks.
Umbach, perplexed at the occurrence, shared his experience on Strava in hopes that someone would offer a similar story.
Thanks to Umbach's photos, Chris Sykes, the Executive Director at Alabama Wildlife Center, identified the bird species.
"Barred owl," Sykes said. "The usual suspect."
"Barred owls are very territorial," he continued. "The breeding season begins in late fall or early winter. The only reason they would attack humans is to defend their nest or territory."
Sykes met with Homewood City Council on Oct. 21 to discuss the placement of warning signs and bird habitats to protect runners and walkers on the trail.
“We forget that we share the planet, and it’s their home just as much as it is ours,” Sykes concluded. “There are lots that the city can do to help. Make Homewood more bird-friendly, encouraging them to go to different areas.”
The evident dangers presented by the owl led the council members to approve Sykes's initiative to install nesting boxes for the bird. Since barred owls attack predators to defend their homes, perhaps helping the owl migrate away from passersby will save the hats and heads of trail users. After the meeting, six bird boxes were installed for the Lakeshore Owl.
They also approved cautionary signs for the trail. These signs show visitors the location of wildlife territory and offer a warning for those running or walking.
Additionally, the council members seemed interested in collaborating with AWC to install educational areas in the future. Sykes said that the council will discuss the funding for this venture at a later meeting.
"I foresee that area turning into almost like a Homewood Botanical Gardens," Sykes continued. "The area in the middle already has walking paths. Bee hives, birdhouses, bat houses, native plants, outdoor classrooms, and signage. It's so underutilized."
The investment in improving the natural properties of Lakeshore Trail would serve the nearby school systems and people who already use the trail.
Please refer to Sykes's advice as you run along the newly modified trail. He wishes to protect all parties involved, both winged and legged.
- These are apex predators that have very sharp talons. While the chances of an adult getting seriously injured are low, it’s much higher for people with autoimmune diseases or young children.
- A hat would be a great option to protect yourself (even if it takes it temporarily), but looking out for them can make a huge difference. You’re less likely to get attacked by an owl when it realizes it’s being observed by a larger predator (humans) and more likely to be attacked when your back is turned.
For your safety, please refer to the map displaying the location of the attacks and seek an alternative path if you exercise during the early morning hours.
Keep your caps on tight, Homewood.
Any information about your personal experiences with the owl can be emailed to sschmidt@starnesmedia.com so that we can continue to provide Sykes with the details he needs.
