Dutch town terrorised by rogue owl attacks

European eagle owl is among the world's largest owl species and has been preying on the inhabitants of a northern Dutch town

The owl has been terrorising local residents (ITN)

Residents of a northern Dutch town have been forced to carrying umbrellas at night for protection after a spate of vicious attacks by a rogue owl.

The attacks, thought to be the work of a European eagle owl, have landed dozens with serious injuries over the past two weeks.

In the most recent incident, two members of the local athletics team were attacked, with one member requiring a tetanus shot after the owl accosted him. In another confrontation, one individual required stitches for five separate head wounds.

Pumerend’s residents have been advised to arm themselves with umbrellas against the bird, one of the world’s largest owl species. A full grown European eagle owl can weigh up to three kilograms and possesses a wingspan of roughly 6ft.

Residents of the local care home, nearby the location of many of the attacks, have been left terrified by the nocturnal vigilante.

"During the day there's no problem, but at night we now only venture outside armed with umbrellas, helmets and hats, anything really, to protect ourselves,” spokesperson Liselotte de Bruijn of Prinsenstichting home for the disabled told AFP.

Wildlife experts remain perplexed at the owl’s unusual behaviour.

The bird usually feasts on small mammals – such as small mammals or other birds – but local animal trainers believe that the owl may have been bred in captivity and has learnt to associate humans with food.

Another theory is that the owl’s hormone levels may have dramatically increased in the run-up to breeding season.