Bird of prey attacks jogger in France
Buzzard attacked runner on the head. The birds can be territorial during nesting season
Attacks are recorded during the spring
Marcin Perkowski/Shutterstock
A woman has told how she was attacked on the head by a buzzard while out for a jog in eastern France.
Experts say such attacks are very rare but can happen during the spring nesting season when the birds become more aggressive.
Sonia, 43, was jogging in Savoie when she passed a buzzard perched on a tree in late February.
“I didn't pay any particular attention to it and carried on jogging… then I felt something grab my head and skull,” she told local media FranceBleu.
“At the time, I didn't understand what was happening [but] I found myself with blood dripping down my hair and onto my face,” she said.
“As I turned round, I saw the buzzard back on its branch. I realised that it had attacked me with its claws. It was so quick that I didn't have time to be scared.”
She continued running and a nearby school bus driver helped take her back to her aunt’s house where she was staying.
She disinfected the bleeding wounds but did not need to go to the hospital for the injuries.
Read more: Errors to avoid and how to help wildlife as you get your garden in France ready for spring
Buzzards defend nesting young
The local Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux (bird protection league, LPO) was not surprised to hear about the incident.
It said it records roughly one buzzard attack per year in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie departments (more nationally), which always occurs between February and April/May.
“This is the nesting season for buzzards,” said LPO director Anne Dejean.
“Once the eggs are laid, they incubate for a good month, then the young stay in the nest for around two months,” she said.
“When a jogger passes close to the nest, the bird will fly over and make sure there is no danger to its nest or to the young hatched inside. From time to time, the bird may show aggressive behaviour,” she added.
“If there is a first attack and aggressive behaviour is observed, you should avoid passing by during the nesting period as far as possible.”
If you are attacked - or feel threatened - the advice is to walk away and not run as this can be seen as aggressive behaviour by the bird.
Attacks from other birds of prey have occurred rarely in France.
In 2024, a vulture attacked a woman in her garden in southern France, believed to be the first attack of its kind.
Read more: Vulture attacks and injures woman in her garden in France
