Wild owls can pop up in all kinds of places ranging from woods, cities, open planes, grasslands and sometimes even our gardens! We have always been told to put out bird seed in our bird feeders to help care for the local wildlife, so is this still the same when it comes to wild owls? You may be here because like me, you questioned whether it was appropriate to feed such a fiercely independent, pro hunter! After all, if there is one thing that owls excel in, it would be hunting so should we really intervene with that? Should we feed wild owls?
The short answer would be probably, ideally no – we shouldn’t feed wild owls.
I know it might seem tempting to help wild owls because wild animals appeal to our empathetic side and we feel an urge to help them find their meal for the day so they don’t go starving but ultimately (and thankfully) owls generally don’t need the food, it can be more dangerous than helpful and there are much better ways to help owls if you want to assist them in positive ways.
So, let’s dive into the reasons I have mentioned above that explain why feeding wild owls isn’t always the best idea…
Owls can feed themselves
As mentioned above, owls are incredible hunters, every inch of their body is perfectly crafted for this. Therefore, they don’t really need any assistance when it comes to finding food. By feeding owls, this could lead to them expecting easy meals and therefore not exercising their natural skills. Also if this reliable food source was to stop, the owl wouldn’t have their natural hunting pattern figured out.
Although if you do find a wild animal that comes across unwell or injured, this is a slightly different situation as I have mentioned in my previous post What Do I Do If I Find A Baby Owl? sometimes human intervention is the kindest option. I wouldn’t recommend offering food yourself because the owl will be scared and it could agitate the situation more if you try and approach the owl but a licensed wildlife rehabilitator should be informed of the situation and they can decide what help is needed. Sometimes weak owls do need to be provided with some sustenance but this has to be the right kind, at the right time for the right reasons.
Dangers to the owl
When it comes to feeding wild animals there is always the risk that people will feed them food that is not only inappropriate for their diets but may even be dangerous. Some people have been concerned that certain dead animals acquired from pet shops can contain harmful pathogens/parasites/chemicals that can be lethal. Although I would say this is probably an unlikely risk. It is actually more dangerous to feed wild animals because of reasons touched on above when it becomes the owls habit and they become too reliant on a food source that they didn’t provide for themselves.
This can also lead to a problem where if you are seen often by the owl, providing their food, they may become accustomed to your presence and perhaps humans in general and this is to be avoided with any wild animals. Generally we do not want any wild animal to trust humans, sadly. It probably isnt in the animals best interest, their natural instinct to be fearful keeps them safe. This interaction with humans also pushes owls to enter human inhabited areas such as busy roads/town centres and this can lead to dangerous situations for owls. Sadly, one of the biggest killers / harmers of owls is traffic.
Also, you must keep in mind how owls can be the danger, if you own small animals that an owl may be attracted to for dinner then you might want to avoid attracting them to your gardens as owls can injure or kill smaller animals.
There are better ways to help!
Feeding owls is not the best way to support and care for our wild owl population, the best thing you can provide for owls is an owl nesting box, located in the perfect location away from humans and heavily populated areas. Please read my other post titled Where Should I Put an Owl Box in My Garden? to learn about nesting boxes and how to affectively set one up.
Nesting boxes are brilliant for helping owls during the breeding seasons, and keeping them safe from the elements. Owls are not waterproof so any shelter from the bad weather is beneficial for their wellbeing. It is recommended that you don’t visit the owl box once it is set up so that the owls are not disturbed and once again, so they do not get used to humans. This is a non-invasive yet caring act for our owl population.
In conclusion, as tempting as it may be to feed wild owls in order to see them more, it is probably not the best idea. Owls are generally well fed anyway from relying on their own hunting skills and they are better kept away from human interaction. Invest in a nesting box to help the local owls instead!