Great Horned Owl...?

[Teresa Ford]

I had a horribal experience with an owl. Check out my old post.

[Lap Princess]

Originally Posted by navillusc

Florida actually has huge Barred Owls, too, but the call I heard was definitely not a Barred Owl.

I don't worry a lot about alligators because we are far enough from water, have no pool, and only have very small swampy areas within, say 3 miles of the house, so no good habitat for their survival or breeding.

Good you don't have to worry about gators! Barred owls are pretty good sized, but smaller than GHOs and don't have the ear tufts.

[Lap Princess]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

I know I used to have an Owl in my backyard that would sit in my Oak Tree. I haven't seen it, in at least a year.

I got this great picture of it, I can't believe the picture came out so good as it was pitch dark outside and I wasn't sure if I was pointing camera in the right area. Once I took the picture it flew off.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL89/.../396406158.jpg

Great job getting that pic! No easy task at night! That's a GHO, even tho you can't see the ear tufts. Large with yellow eyes.

FYI, it's the beginning of courtship and breeding season for Great Horned's, so they're gonna be more active & vocal right now.

[gracielove]

It is a wonderful shot of the owl. They blend into the trees so well that it amazing you even saw him.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

I had a horribal experience with an owl. Check out my old post.

That was quite an experience! So did you change what time you walk the dogs after that? I know after that one flew over my head and perched right in front of me in broad daylight it changed my thinking about early morning walks. That was when my Shih Tzu was still alive and I had to walk him before I went to work. It's an awful feeling to think you may be being stalked by one of those things.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

I know I used to have an Owl in my backyard that would sit in my Oak Tree. I haven't seen it, in at least a year.

I got this great picture of it, I can't believe the picture came out so good as it was pitch dark outside and I wasn't sure if I was pointing camera in the right area. Once I took the picture it flew off.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL89/.../396406158.jpg

What a fabulous photo...it's like he posed for you!

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Lap Princess

Good you don't have to worry about gators! Barred owls are pretty good sized, but smaller than GHOs and don't have the ear tufts.

Correct...

I couldn't see the owl except briefly...mostly wing tip flutter...while he flying away...so I couldn't see whether there were ear tufts or not...which would have told me what kind of owl and how big...lol, but the call was a GHO I am pretty certain. I did a lot of listening to owl calls on various web sites before posting...to be fairly certain. While none of the recorded owl calls were exactly like the owl I heard...that owl had a lower pitched, very smooth, throaty "radio voice" call, but the call 'pattern' and 'inflection' were the same.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by gracielove

It may be this owl has just moved into your area. Like most wild animals that hunt these critters need their own hunting territory so when the young adults leave the nest they have to go out and find their own hunting ground. If he finds enough to eat there he will stay and if not he may move on. They mostly eat rodents and rabbits but I think they do notice small dogs as well....especially when they are hungry. I have heard owl attacks out in the woods at night and it can be awful. I wouldn't want to try to have to fight one off.

I am thinking the same...most likely looking for a mate since I believe mating season is just starting. Since we have plenty of wooded area, I think he may be 'hoping'...

We generally have plenty of smallish furry critters in the woods, too...and for sure, rabbits at least 'used' to live in the woods behind...not sure if there are many field mice anymore though after all the feral cats moved into the barn behind us. I think some of the feral cats I was not able to catch and have 'repaired' in the 'family' way might have been victims of owl attacks...I have heard horrible screaming at night in years past that was clearly unrelated to mating practices.

I do still have 4 cats, so owls have always been a concern for me...even before the Yorkies. Most of the cats are bigger than the Yorkies, so now, even more so it is a concern since I have even more to lose and/or protect.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

I had a horribal experience with an owl. Check out my old post.

Teresa, I will look for your old post tonight. I can use any hints I can get how to keep my babies safe on their night and early morning, dark outside, walks.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Lap Princess

Great job getting that pic! No easy task at night! That's a GHO, even tho you can't see the ear tufts. Large with yellow eyes.

FYI, it's the beginning of courtship and breeding season for Great Horned's, so they're gonna be more active & vocal right now.

Correct...on all counts......and mating season is the likely reason he spoke, I am thinking. If he was hunting my Yorkies, which I cannot even be certain he knew about prior to seeing them/us outside on Monday night, I'd expect him to want the element of surprise that comes with not announcing his presence. But, he likely didn't expect us to intrude on his evening like we did. I also think maybe...just maybe...that's why he flew away Monday night...we surprised him while he was hoping his "luck" would not include...you know, stuff like...us!

Regardless, I am being extremely cautious, and am very nervous about his presence because of my cats and dogs, and not knowing how big he is or what threat he could actually pose. Also, he may not be the only one...hopefully he's a male hopeful with no local females rather than a female who's likely to attract plenty of male hopefuls.

Normally, I do not mind having at least some critters around me. In this case, however, there is a danger, and I see no reason to tempt fate.

[MandiesMom]

When I moved into my house back in June, I realized QUICKLY that we (well, our group of neighbors) have a family of Great Horned Owls. I would see them every night at dusk.

I didn't see them in July or August but have seen them again the last month and a half. In June, I would see 3 or 4 at a time. Now, I only see/hear 1 at a time. I think it really was a family in June and now it's 1 or 2 looking to nest or mate.

[Teresa Ford]

The old post was called ' twilight attack' . Just search threads started by Teresa Ford. And to answer Gracielove. Yes, I stopped walking my Yorkies close to dusk. I don't walk them really early morning either. I will never forget the heart stopping fear when that owl swooped down. I just shivered thinking about it !

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by navillusc

I am thinking the same...most likely looking for a mate since I believe mating season is just starting. Since we have plenty of wooded area, I think he may be 'hoping'...

We generally have plenty of smallish furry critters in the woods, too...and for sure, rabbits at least 'used' to live in the woods behind...not sure if there are many field mice anymore though after all the feral cats moved into the barn behind us. I think some of the feral cats I was not able to catch and have 'repaired' in the 'family' way might have been victims of owl attacks...I have heard horrible screaming at night in years past that was clearly unrelated to mating practices.

I do still have 4 cats, so owls have always been a concern for me...even before the Yorkies. Most of the cats are bigger than the Yorkies, so now, even more so it is a concern since I have even more to lose and/or protect.

Before we got the feral cat population sterilized I used to see those kittens disappear really quickly. It's heartbreaking. They either starve or are grabbed up by predators. They are so wild that you can't help them. They usually won't even come close enough to the house to eat. I wanted to try trapping them but we have so many critters around here I was afraid I would end up with a skunk or a raccoon instead.
We rarely hear the owls except at certain times of year. It may be they are more vocal when they are mating or calling for a mate.

[Harrysmum]

Cat!!!! And all my YT friends....!!!!

I think the time has come for you all to realise that you need to move 'over here'!!!

We have no snakes, no huge great flying roaches, not really any lizards, no gators, nothing really very stingy or nasty, most of our animals are quite cute and cuddly.....you don't need to suffer any longer!!!!

Just pack all of yourselves and your Littlies up and come and live with me and be safe and scaredy-free.....!!! By the way, London Gatwick Airport's the closest to me.... Sally + Harry x

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Cat!!!! And all my YT friends....!!!!

I think the time has come for you all to realise that you need to move 'over here'!!!

We have no snakes, no huge great flying roaches, not really any lizards, no gators, nothing really very stingy or nasty, most of our animals are quite cute and cuddly.....you don't need to suffer any longer!!!!

Just pack all of yourselves and your Littlies up and come and live with me and be safe and scaredy-free.....!!! By the way, London Gatwick Airport's the closest to me.... Sally + Harry x

Oooooo, my dear friend, Sally! You just don't know how good, and tempting, that sounds! I've made a note about the London Gatwick Airport, though!

Hugs to you and Harry!