Getting to Know the Great Horned Owl

Of the common owls, the Great Horned Owl is the most powerful. It is a fierce hunter with keen vision and hearing. The Great Horned Owl is one of the biggest owls and is found throughout North America. Some call the bird a “tiger owl,” which is almost as ferocious as a tiger.

Great Horned Owls are fascinating to watch, but they are rather tricky to spot because they are nocturnal. Learn more about this owl species here on this Wildlife ID page from Covenant Wildlife Removal.

Great Horned Owl Facts

Getting to know the Great Horned Owl, you will no doubt come to admire it for its strength and stealth. But above all, they are stunning to look at; that is, if you are fortunate enough.

Appearance:

Striking in appearance is the Great Horned Owl. They are large owls bigger than a crow and smaller than a goose. In fact, they are slightly larger than a Red-tailed hawk and every bit as beautiful. This owl’s color pattern is a mottled grey-brown with a reddish face and a white patch in the throat. And their overall coloring may be dark or pale.

Length: 18.1 – 24.8 inches

Weight: 32.1 – 88.2 ounces

Wingspan: 39.8 – 57.1 inches

Call:

Heard from miles away, the Great Horned Owl’s call is a classic and well-known owl sound. According to Nature.org, “The sounds made by the owl vary with its mood and temperament. When calling for its mate, it makes a ‘who hoo, who hoo’ sound. If aggravated, the owl will ‘clack’ with its beak. Young owls will ‘shriek’ or scream for attention.”

Behavior:

These owls are nocturnal; however, you may see them out at dusk. You may see them sitting on the fence or in a tree scouting the area for prey.

Habitat:

The habitat of the Great Horned Owl is vast. It ranges from the forests to swamplands, deserts, woodlands, streamside, and the great open country.

Diet:

Primarily hunting at night, the Great Horned Owl watches from its perch and swoops down silently to capture its prey with its great talons. It will take a variety of animals, including but not limited to rats, mice, squirrels, opossums, rabbits, hawks, skunks, snakes, and even porcupines. Unfortunately, the hunter and the prey may perish in the struggle with porcupines. Some will eat birds like geese, ducks, hawks, and more. Still, others will dine on frogs, lizards, insects, scorpions, and fish.

What to Do If an Owl Perches in Your Yard

Great Horned Owls are excellent critter control for farms and more. They do this planet a superb service in controlling the rodent population. However, if you happen to have a toy dog or just plain don’t want the owl there, getting rid of it can be tricky. Here are a few suggestions for owl control on your property.

• Avoid attracting other birds that may serve as a nice meal for the owls. Remove bird feeders and baths for now.
• Repetitive noise and light will annoy the owl and send it out of your yard. Make the same noise or shine a light each night for a while. Then they will get annoyed and fly off.
• Remove optimal nesting sites from the property. If you have a hole in the roof, close it off. Keep barns sealed off and clean out brush that may harbor rodents.
• Get all the rodents out of your yard. No scurrying meals equal no owls.

Furthermore, never shoot an owl. Permits are required and only in some instances. Permits are also necessary for trapping and relocation.

Covenant Wildlife Removal Deters Owls in Alabama

Do you have an owl issue on your property? Then you probably have a rodent issue too. Covenant Wildlife Removal is here for all your wildlife removal needs. We promise to use safe and humane methods whenever possible and abide by the local laws. Our team of expertly trained specialists is ready to help you reclaim your home when unwanted guests make their way onto your property.

Every day we remove nests, pests, and critters of all sorts from Georgia homes. There is just about nothing we have not seen or removed. And if the animal is protected, we can relocate the critter to a shelter or state-approved area for rehabilitation and relocation.

Click here for a free inspection with our expert team of wildlife removal specialists. Covenant Wildlife Removal will be there right away for all your pest removal needs.

Covenant Wildlife Removal is a top-rated local family-owned, full-service wildlife trapping, removal, and repair service. We can remove a rat infestation before it becomes an extensive problem for you and your family.

Contact us or call 205-850-5760 to set up an inspection.