It's not easy to find a caretaker willing to thaw out frozen rodents, feed them to a lethal owl, then clean up the bloody mess. Keeping an owl will greatly curtail your travel options.
Be ready to stay at home if you insist on owning one. Owls poop. They poop a lot. They poop everywhere. And unlike parrots who are primarily vegetable eaters, owl poop contains the waste of digested meat, and it smells. And owls also regurgitate pellets containing the undigested bits of bones and feathers of the animal carcasses they have just eaten.
All birds are messy creatures, but owls are among the messiest of all. Keeping an owl means you will frequently clean up excrement, regurgitated pellets, feathers, and all the other detritus left on the floor of your huge aviary. Keeping an owl makes owning a large parrot seem carefree by comparison.
Any number of experts confirm that an owl is not a species well suited as a pet. When asked about an owl's suitability as a pet, raptor handler Tamara Barker-Hanley replied: "Owls make lousy pets because they are wild animals.
They are a federally protected species under the migratory bird act, and they will inflict major injury if not handled correctly.
Steve Malowski, Team Leader for the bird department at the Cincinnati Zoo, notes that private persons are unlikely to qualify for permits to keep an owl. Owls are fascinating raptors that deserve your admiration and interest. But if you like owls, it is best to sponsor one by making a cash donation at a rehab center near you. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.
Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. If so, do owls make good pets? The short answer is no. Having an owl as a pet is neither recommended nor encouraged by animal rehab workers, avian experts, and others in the field of owl care. No matter how cute they might be, having a barn owl--or any pet owl--is unfortunately less than ideal for many reasons.
Depending on where you live, catching a glimpse of an owl during a nature walk can be a common sight. Because they live in areas that humans also inhabit, it can be easy to forget that owls are wild at heart. They are birds of prey, near the top of their food chain and their waking hours are devoted to hunting and defending themselves from other predators.
They are as wild as wild gets. Owls are deceptive in size. Many are smaller than house cats, which might lead a person to believe they are compact creatures--and they are, until they spread their wings.
Even a small great horned owl that weighs in at about three pounds has a wingspan in the neighborhood of four feet. That makes them a poor fit for any birdcage as well as kennels, hutches or other structures used to house small animals. Specialized veterinarians can cost way more than your regular veterinarian visit. Just because you can keep an owl in your area does not mean you should. Owls are mysterious and majestic animals that require trained professionals, live prey, and a large place to stay and fly in.
December 4, Admin. State Laws The laws of pet ownership vary according to state. Alaska — No, you cannot have an owl. Arkansas — As long as you can prove you legally acquired an owl, you can keep it. California — No, you cannot have an owl. Colorado — No, you cannot keep an owl. Connecticut — Nope. Delaware — Yes, you can have an owl. Florida — You need a permit to own an owl. Hawaii — Nuh-uh. Illinois — You can get an owl. Louisiana — You can get an owl. Maine — You need a permit to own an owl.
Massachusetts — Nope. Michigan — You need a permit before you can own an owl. Owls also defecate a lot and this, plus the pellets, obviously must be regularly cleaned. Their feces are said to be particularly runny and smelly. Eurasian eagle-owls have a wingspan of up to six feet , so this can provide some reference as to how large their mew and weathering yard should be for them to be comfortable.
Some experts recommend having a pen that is a minimum of 20 feet. In addition, they can weigh four to eight pounds and take on large prey such as foxes and young roe deer in the wild. If you are really interested in getting a Eurasian eagle-owl or any other higher-maintenance pet, conduct more thorough research and consult with other owners with experience in owl husbandry as well as zoos and sanctuaries. As one of the largest owls in the world, and perhaps the largest, precaution is obviously needed when interacting with this massive bird.
Eurasian eagle-owls in comparison to other birds of prey are not very social with handlers. This is why experience with training other raptors may be necessary to handle them. People who are interested in this species—or other owls—might want to consider practicing falconry techniques such as teaching them to fly freely and returning to their owner.
This would allow the animal to receive sufficient exercise and be a better companion animal, which benefits the owner too. An explanation of falconry and recall training exceeds the scope of this article, but it involves motivating the bird to return for food by keeping it at an appropriate weight.
In fact, weighing owls constantly is extremely important for their long-term health. This will ensure they are being fed enough while being exercised. Dirk van Wolferen. These birds are regularly listed on websites where falconers advertise birds. Raptors For Sale is a site that I trust. If a site is trying to sell native owls in the United States, that should be a red flag since those raptors are illegal to own unless you have the proper permits and licenses.
Eurasian eagle-owls can live around 20 years in the wild but up to 50 years in captivity. Do you want to possess a large bird of prey and stock up on frozen small animals for potentially half a century? This includes getting someone to care for your bird if you go away and securing a veterinarian willing to see them if needed. This is an important factor to consider.
Other owls have long lifespans as well. Many people, unfortunately, get a pet owl only to realize a few years later that it's not a good fit. It's important to note that finding an alternative home for them can be very challenging. Releasing them into the wild is basically a death sentence. Territorial and native habitat requirements are species-specific, and natural foraging tendencies may have been faded due to habituation and domestication—leading to displacement, starvation, potential disease including introduction , the distribution of native wildlife, and death.
In the U. And it could be difficult to find a bird sanctuary willing to take your pet since many are at capacity. Many sellers prefer to sell to owners who have some experience with birds of prey. In general, it is a good idea to become familiar with them before seriously considering purchasing one because there might be aspects of their care that you will deem to be too much to handle.
Particularly with Eurasian eagle-owls, they are large birds that could cause harm with their beak and talons, and they require a dedicated owner to commit to their welfare in captivity. Understanding and learning how to train them is important, however many people have a natural affinity for animal training techniques and can be self-taught as long as they are willing to continue learning from experienced people.
Since , a state falconry permit is the only thing required to be in compliance with federal regulations —you no longer need a federal permit as well. The first thing you'll want to do is check with your state's licensing office to see what is required in order to obtain a permit. It's important to note that falconry is prohibited in Hawaii.
Also, the minimum age for having a permit is 12 years old, but some states require you to be older. The state will send you a list of materials that includes information on caring for these raptors. You'll want to seriously consider if you're ready to put in the work. It would also be a good idea to reach out to a local or state falconry organization, if possible. They may be able to also send you some in-depth literature on regulations and other pertinent information.
Every new falconer needs to have a sponsor for at least the first two years. New falconers are called apprentices and serve under either a general or master class falconer. Some potential sponsors will require you to hunt with them for a year before agreeing to be your sponsor. You may also be required to take a hunting safety course.
The exam consists of questions designed to test your knowledge of birds of prey, raptor biology, health care of the birds, laws, and more. Your sponsor will oversee the construction of your facilities to house your raptor since there are strict legal requirements. These facilities will be inspected by someone from your state wildlife agency.
This person will also inspect all of your equipment. If you're not ready to make the commitment of owning an owl, there are other ways you can show your love for these raptors.
There are nonprofits around the world that let people symbolically adopt an owl. There's even one in the United Kingdom, The Owls Trust , that will give you free entry to meet your owl. While this mainly consists of donating money to help pay for the care of the owls, it's a great way to support an animal you love. If you're lucky enough to live near an owl sanctuary, like Owl's Nest in Tampa Bay , Florida, you can look into volunteer opportunities.
Do a Google search to see if there are any sanctuaries nearby. If you want to hang out with owls and other animals while educating others about these wonderful creatures, look into volunteering as a docent. Docents are volunteers who dedicate their time to help develop and produce materials and either visit classrooms or lead tours at a museum or zoo to teach people about various birds and animals. Look into any local museums, zoos, and sanctuaries to inquire about opportunities.
If you're unable to find opportunities like the ones suggested above, you could get a realistic plush owl—like those made by Hansa. Answer: For a falconry license, the age varies by state. It is usually between years old. Non-native owls Eurasian eagle owls do not require permits in states where they are legal. Question: I found an injured Barred owl and know of our local orginizations or Fish and Wild life. I'm in Kentucky, what do I do? Answer: Owls are expensive and their upkeep is also expensive.
They are not good pets if you are looking to save money. Lower-priced animals might be older and harder to manage. This was very informative, though i didn't come here because i wanted an owl. I actually had a dream where i found an owl and curiosity sent me to looking.
Flying Free: What are you talking about? Many older people keep exotic pets, in fact it's mostly naive millennials giving us crap about it.
These aren't pets, they're being held hostage. Selfish and thoughtless.
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