Ought to You Preserve a Snowy Owl as a Pet?

Some blame the fictional Harry Potter and his snowy owl sidekick, Hedwig, for giving a misunderstanding that owl care is simple or that proudly owning one as a pet is appropriate. And whereas it may be fairly frequent and gratifying to have a pet parrot or one other home chook, the identical will not be true for this wild chook of prey. Apart from zoos and wild chook sanctuaries, it’s downright unlawful to personal a snowy owl in North America.

Can You Personal a Pet Snowy Owl?

Legality

It isn’t authorized to personal a snowy owl within the U.S. Non-public possession is prohibited by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service per the Migratory Chicken Treaty Act of 1918, however if you need to know extra about these fascinating birds, learn on.

Snowy Owl Conduct and Temperament

Snowy owls are usually solitary and are not identified to be affectionate towards one another or people. Since they’re most energetic at night time and depend on sizable reside prey as their foremost weight loss plan, they do not make a very good pet.

This chook makes use of its giant talons and sharp beak to catch prey. And it employs its distinctive owl options—night time imaginative and prescient, eager listening to, and aerodynamic physique—to grow to be a silent however lethal predator. Since it’s also prey to different bigger animals, when threatened, each female and male owls defend themselves and their nests by dive-bombing and attacking perceived threats.

Housing

Captive owls are housed in zoos or raptor rehabilitation facilities. At these areas, an owl enclosure must be a minimal of 20 sq. ft with a number of perches that mimic tree branches.

Owl enclosures require common cleansing to take care of sanitary residing circumstances. Owls defecate profusely and expel owl pellets—regurgitated clumps of indigestible bits from prey objects, corresponding to fur, bones, and tooth. Owls, like most birds, undergo an annual molt, and through this time, they lose giant portions of feathers that should be faraway from the enclosure.

Any excrement, discarded feathers, or rotting refuse left within the enclosure creates a breeding floor for micro organism, which might have an effect on the well being of an owl.

What Do Snowy Owls Eat and Drink?

The snowy owl eats small mammals and birds in addition to bugs within the wild. Its most well-liked meals in its native arctic habitat is lemmings. On common, an owl will eat three to 5 lemmings per day.

In captivity, owls are fed complete mice, rats, and chicks which might be both reside or thawed from frozen. It wants no less than seven to 12 small animals per day.

Frequent Well being Issues

Snowy owls are susceptible to aspergillosis, a fungal an infection that causes respiratory issues, melancholy, and lack of urge for food. Birds of prey originating in arctic or subarctic climates are typically extra vulnerable. The fungus typically causes issues for these owls in a hotter, drier atmosphere than their native vary.

Buying

For the reason that birds aren’t authorized to buy within the U.S., you’ll be able to sponsor or “undertake” an owl that lives its life in a pet sanctuary or an animal middle. Many shelters or conservation organizations assist heal injured wild birds or look after wild owls that had been initially pets. These organizations embrace the:

• World Wildlife Fund
• Owl Analysis Institute
• Nationwide Audubon Society

Adoption applications be sure that these birds are cared for by professionals, given the suitable enclosure, consideration, coaching, and care. Your financial contribution can present for that owl’s wants, and within the case of native chook sanctuaries, could grant you the power to go to the chook. Relying on the sanctuary, they could even enable extra interactive engagement, corresponding to serving to with feeding or participating in owl care. Sponsoring an owl helps that wild animal and offers much-needed assist to the middle or group that gives for its care.

Comparable Pets to the Snowy Owl

In case you are keen on different unique chook species, take a look at:

• Ring-Neck Dove Species Profile
• Victoria Topped Pigeon Species Profile
• Black Palm Cockatoo Species Profile