PADUCAH, Ky.— As the owl attacks grow in frequency and aggression, we now have a better guess at the species of bird responsible. 

A barred owl baby was found dead in the road in the 4700 block of Buckner Lane in the Pines neighborhood of Paducah. It was apparently hit by a car around 8:15 Monday night.

Before that incident, we spoke with Dr. Mark Vance who rides his bike down Whitney Drive most mornings before dawn. August 20th, Dr. Vance reported being attacked  four times. Now, seven days later, that number has jumped to twelve.

The morning of the 26th, the owl struck twice. Dr. Vance said, "It was much more aggressive to have it hover in flight and then attack immediately again."

The owl considers The Pines neighborhood home. Wildlife experts say the bird could be protecting its territory or its young using sneak attacks. "They can move and flap their wings hard and fast, but very quietly. They also have strong talons and a very strong grip. Stronger than an adult male," said Stacey Hayden with Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge.

The Pines area has plenty of people for the owl to pick on. Dr. Vance says, "We do have some species in Kentucky that occur year round, but some are seasonal. They're only here for one season, then they're gone."

While concerned parents can't capture or kill the bird, they can wait to see if cold weather makes it migrate. "We do have some species in Kentucky that occur year round, but some are seasonal. They're only here for one season, then they're gone," said Hayden.

Hayden says the birds also tend to leave when the food does, and that may be the only hope for people living in The Pines.

The barred owl species does not usually migrate unless it's food source is cut off.