Facts
- Name derived from tufts of feathers on ears that appear to be "horns"
- Prefers habitats are thickly wooded canyons
- Nocturnal (night active) and Crepuscular (dawn and dusk active)
- Females are 10-20% larger than males
- Clutches prey by diving down from high perches
- Prey are usually killed instantly when grasped by the owl's large talons
- Carnivorous; top predator; preying on rodents, rabbits and birds
- A great horned owl can catch prey two to three times heavier than itself
- Eat their prey whole and regurgitate the indigestible parts (bones, fur and feathers)
- Pellets are regurgitated 6 to 10 hours after eating
- Great horned owls have a large repertoire of sounds: from deep hoots to shrill shrieks
- Owls are solitary in nature; only stay with their mate while nesting
- Both males and females incubate their chicks
- There are recorded flying speeds of great horned owls of up to 40 mph
- Great horned owls don't build nests of their own; instead, they use the nests of birds and squirrels or find hollows in trees and buildings
People and Great Horned Owls
- Great horned owls are generally shy in nature; that and their ability to adapt enable them to remain fairly common
- Great horned owls are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act
- They occasionally prey on domestic poultry and cats
- Great horned owls help to control harmful rodent populations
How to Coexist
- Keep cats and small dogs indoors.
- You can put up an "owl box" in your backyard to provide a home for some owls to help reduce the rodent population.
- Drive slowly at night, taking care to look for owls and other wildlife.
- Put a chimney cap or wire mesh over your chimney so owls don't nest there or fledge into your chimney.
