Behaviour – Page 4 – Owl Chatter

We are all extremely impressed by an owls untouchable skills when it comes to hunting but not so much when their prey becomes our own pets! It may surprise some people to hear that owls can and do in fact hunt many animals that we would commonly own as pets and this is something that people must be aware of if they live in owl heavy areas. After all, owls aren’t scared to attack a human if they feel it necessary so they wont back down from a smaller animal. So... will owls hurt pets? sometimes yes, owls can be a threat to our pets. It is acknowledged that owls regularly prey on rodents, reptiles, rabbits and other smaller birds but many forget to acknowledge the risk owls and other birds of prey can have on small dogs and cats when food sources become scarce. Great Horned Owls are especially known to be a villain when it comes to pet attacks around the U.S. and Canada as they are one of the bigger species of owl with wingspans that can reach 5ft. They are extremely territorial and therefore often attack in response to protecting themselves and their nests/young. Only animals under 20 pounds are likely to be at risk of a predatory attack and an example of this would be cats! Great horned owls are especially known for attacking domestic cats, especially if they decide that your garden is their territory and the cat is spending too much time there for its liking! But Great Horned Owls aren’t the only owls that are a risk. For example European Eagle owls, often kept as pets in the UK, were added to a list of non-native species that pose a threat to Britain’s indigenous animals. Therefore if you were to release this owl into the wild without a licence then you could receive two years in jail and a £5000 fine under the wildlife and Countryside Act. To find out which of your pets are most at risk and how to minimise this risk read on. Dogs Many owls are potential dog predators if the dog appears to be an easy target (small enough to hunt). Owls won’t necessarily choose a dog to attack if there are other animals to prey on because if they have attempted to hunt a dog before they will be aware that a dog will fight back, and the owl can often end up hurt. A dog attack would usually only occur when the owl is extremely hungry and desperate for food. On the other hand, the attack could be initiated by the dog, maybe the dog chased the owl or entered its territory. This type of attack would not be to hunt the dog but to protect their nests. Owls will use their extremely sharp talons to grab their prey, while sneaking up on them silently. Owners who have lost their dogs to an owl attack often say they barely heard any noise at all as owls are such stealthy hunters. Cats Cats are a favourite prey option for the Great Horned Owl and therefore you must be extremely careful if you decide to adopt a cat in owl heavy areas. Unlike dogs, we rarely keep an eye on our cats, usually letting them out to roam free until they decide to come back home. This is when they are most at risk so if you do own a cat in an area where owls are regularly hunting domestic cats, consider keeping your cats indoor and using litter trays. Although I am not personally a fan of this idea, as I like cats to be able to have freedom and independence, it is certainly a better alternative to death. Photograph by me (Alex Wright). Small Animals (Rabbits, Rodents, Reptiles and Other Birds) These are the usual prey for owls so it is understandable that these are at great risk. Of course the owls don’t know the difference between the rabbit in the field that they ate for breakfast compared to Thumper your well-loved family pet that is playing out in the garden munching on some grass. Often people will keep their rabbits and rodents in outdoor huts, maybe even their pet birds are kept in the garden in a bird cage so if this is the case ensure these huts are extremely secure and away from lurking owls sight if possible. Reptiles are less likely to be at risk unless you regularly let them roam outdoors, it is unlikely you would do this without watching them but of course always ensure you are nearby (not just because of predator risk but also because they might just wander off!). How to Protect Your Pets From Owls Keeping your pets out of the owls sight is the best way to keep them safe. Ensure that any outhouses/hutches/kennels etc have sturdy roofs to provide adequate shelter and make sure that any branches and trees are not staring directly at the shelters if the owl was to land there. Bright sources of light can be enough to scare off owls from attacking pets in your garden. If you see an owl approach your pet you can wave a torch and this should scare them off. I would recommend fitting a garden light activated by a sensor to alarm any owls that approach the garden while simultaneously lighting the garden for your pet so they can spot any predator before its too late. Owls are sneaky hunters and with their silent flight, an approach from behind could kill your pet. Remove bird feeders if owls are posing a significant threat to your pet. I do not recommend doing this otherwise as bird feeders are important for up-keeping our bird population. If you live in an owl heavy area where owl attacks are becoming a common problem, you must ensure that all your neighbours are working with you to combat this problem. If you do everything you can to eliminate risks for your pets but then your neighbour is regularly filling up their bird feeders, you are not going to achieve anything! Always supervise your pets if they are not in a protective hut. If you are letting your dog out into the garden, even during the day, it is important to keep an eye on them as some owls do hunt during the day. If possible, keep your cats indoors if you know they are at risk. Other scare tactics include hanging reflective metal tape as it reflects lots of light and makes odd noises that scare the owls when it blows in the wind and will deter them from your garden as a nesting/hunting spot. It is important to take these measures seriously because harming an owl or any bird of prey is not the route we would want to resort to! It is also illegal and can even lead to jail time. Make sure you are aware of the laws in your area. In conclusion, owls can be dangerous to our pets if they are left unmonitored and unprotected. If you follow all the precautions above it would be very unlikely for anything to happen to your well loved family pet.