MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Owls aren’t notoriously threatening creatures, but those living in the Old Shell Road area might disagree.

Trey Galloway is one of several people in the area who have claimed to have been attacked by the owls. Galloway said he was targeted twice.

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“I guess I’m a menacing-looking guy,” Galloway said. “I don’t know.”

The first attack, according to Galloway, was during a 4:30 a.m. run on Halloween morning. It was on Old Shell Road near McGregor Avenue.

“I thought I was being robbed,” Galloway said. “One of them flew and hit me in the back of the head, stole my Apple AirPod, and I went about my day.”

The second attack occurred just five days later, when Galloway was in the last kilometer of his morning run. This time, Galloway knew exactly what hit him, but he didn’t expect what was coming.

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“I turn around and there’s another owl about six feet behind her, flying right at my head again,” Galloway said. “At that time the first owl spun around and came and hit me on the other side of the head, knocking me to the ground.”

Galloway said he hit the pavement and was injured in both hands and right arm.

Finally, Galloway said he heard a man yelling at him to see if he was OK.

“I shouted, ‘No, I’m not okay!’ Open your door!” Galloway said. “I ran and jumped into a pickup truck, which turned out to be a good friend of mine that I’ve known all my life.”

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The city of Mobile acknowledged that the owl attack probably happened. Owls are part of a federally protected category of birds called “raptors.” Those called upon to deal with kidnappers must receive a special permit to do so.

Since the mobile animal shelter mainly deals with domestic animals, they are not equipped with the proper permits to handle raptors. The city enlisted a handler from Mississippi to set monitored traps in the area.

“It’s not a box trap like you’d see for a dog. So he can’t rest comfortably until someone comes looking for him,” said Robert Bryant, director of mobile animal services. “Once it gets there, it’s going to create a lot of stress for the animal.”

Bryant said he thinks the owls are old and have poor eyesight, causing them to mistake humans for squirrels or rats.

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“It’s just not the time of year they would be protecting a nest,” Bryant said.

Galloway’s wounds healed quickly.

“I haven’t run outside since I joined a gym,” Galloway said.

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