Human beings have always been in contact with the animal kingdom and although it is true that today's society is far from the times of yesteryear, we cannot disassociate ourselves from nature or animals, a good example of this are all those people who decide to share their home with an animal.
However, the world of pets is no longer reduced to dogs and cats (although they are the quintessential pets) but rather we welcome into our home numerous animals with very different characteristics, such as mice, turtles, snakes, ferrets, chinchillas and a long etcetera.
More and more animals can be considered housemates, but anything goes? In this article on our site we talk about the owl as a pet so you know if you can have it or not.
Owl Features
Its heart-shaped head and large, penetrating eyes make the owl (order Strigiformes) an enigmatic, mysterious animal that casts a spell over us with great ease, however, we must talk about its nature to evaluate pet suitability.
There are more than 200 species of owls and they inhabit all regions of our planet except Antarctica. Despite their great variety, owls have common characteristics that should be mentioned.
The owl is a bird of prey and nocturnal animal It is during the night when we can see it active, being an animal that we can hardly appreciate fully during the day. Precisely because of this peculiar characteristic, the owl has a very developed sense of sight, being its optimal night vision, in the same way, its sense of hearing is also extraordinary.
It is a solitary and very territorial animal, a predator that has a fast flight together with very strong claws and a beak, which serves as an aid to hunt their prey. These are the prey that owls eat:
- Mammals
- Reptiles
- Other birds
- Insects
In addition, the fact that they can move their head up to 270º makes it easier for them to capture food. It should be noted that although owls have a great morphological variety, most of them have a brown or black coloration called cryptic coloration.
You may be interested in learning about other Nocturnal Animals and Types of Owls on our site.
Can you have a pet owl or not?
The following statement is undeniable: the owl is a wild animal and captivity is not made for him. These aspects clearly indicate that the owl should not be considered a pet.
Even so, in Spain there are special permits (documentation specified by CITES) that allow you to have an owl as a pet, although they are part of a long administrative process and are a great investment of money and time.
On the other hand, there are three species of owls that are prohibited as pets, as indicated in Appendix I of the CITES Convention. These species are:
- Blewitt's Owl
- Mindanao Owl
- Christmas Ninox
If you are thinking of hosting an owl, you must make sure that it is not a protected species or a wild specimen. Also, how much an owl costs will also depend on the species and size we are looking for, but from our site we encourage you not to encourage this practice.
On the other hand, if you find a baby owl, it is best to take it to a Wild Animal Recovery Centeror some other bird center where they can help you.
Owl care
If you are considering the option of taking in an owl as a pet, it is important that you know the following information first:
- Caring for an owl requires a person with experience in handling these birds: it is not an animal that admits experimentation in its maintenance.
- Owls don't adapt well to change: this means that it is a pet that will make it very difficult for us to simply go out vacation. They will not accept that we leave them in the care of other people, which means that they will have to accompany us.
- This animal needs daily flight exercises: for this we must have enough space, time and dedication to be able to procure them.
- Feeding an owl requires having whole and dead animals: not only does it involve acquiring it, but also its subsequent conservation in our home, for For example, in the freezer. The owl can vomit the viscera of the animal, which would imply that we must previously remove them. What baby and young owls eat is the same as adults, only smaller in size.
- It is very important to clarify that is a wild bird of prey: that is, its behavior is aggressive and that is not going to change.
- During the mating season the owl makes continuous night calls: they will prevent any inhabitant of the home from resting.
- A small owl can live more than 20 years but a large owl can even live 50 years: we must think that the long life of this animal is synonymous with long responsibility.
Furthermore, an owl bred in captivity cannot subsequently be released, as it would not survive in an environment that would be completely unfamiliar to it and would even have great difficulty feeding.
Now that you know what owls and others in their care eat, is not recommended and any animal lover You should rule out this possibility. Do not cage an animal that needs freedom, the owl is not made to live sad and locked up.
Alternatives to the owl as a pet
A Owl as a pet is not a good idea or the most sensible option. Many bird lovers end up causing wild birds to die of sadness in environments that are not suitable, as happens in the hidden face of wildlife.
However, if you are passionate about birds of prey, do not hesitate to visit how to get started in falconry, although you can also read our article on the macaw as a pet if you are looking for a large bird.
