Owl Dangers and Predators
Owls definitely are very independent birds in the wild, but they do have predators to worry about. They are considered to be top food chain elements though so they don’t have too many problems. The types of predators that they will have often depends on their size and where their natural habitat is.
The fox can get into trees and is very fast on land. For many species of owls this is the biggest animal that they have to worry about in their natural environment. This is especially true during the colder times of the year. Other species of birds have migrated and some regular food sources for the fox can be harder to get to during that time of the year.
For those owls that live in tropical rainforests, very large and powerful snakes can be predators. They tend to be looking for eggs in the nests but don’t mind feeding on the living owls at all. The overall size of these snakes can be astounding which is why they able to easily take over the owl and swallow them whole.
Wild cats are a concern in some areas. They are very good predators and they can sneak up on owls like no other type of predator is really able to. They are also very fast and very powerful which is part of their survival instinct. Large species of eagles are also known to prey on some of the smaller species of owls.
Raccoons and squirrels can consume small owls, especially those that are still in the nest or that have only started to be on their own. Of course there are some very small species of owls out there that don’t get very big when they are fully mature. They can be victims of these predators as well.
Owls have some defenses that help them to remain hidden from predators. For example their coloring allows them to quickly blend into their surroundings. As the seasons change the coloring can as well. You have to remember that owls will sleep during the day. Therefore they need to be able to hide from various predators that are active during the day time hours.
Owls also have very sharp talons that they can use to fight predators. These talons may not look like much but they can cut predators open and they can cut very deeply. The rapid movements of the owls can result in scratching that will cause their predators to run away with pain.
The beak of an owl is another weapon that they use to defend themselves. Their beaks are turned downward and they are very sharp. While predators can take down owls, they won’t be able to do so without a fight.
When owls are injured though it is harder for them to be able to fight back. They don’t have as much strength. You will find that predators are instinctively able to figure this out. That is why they will go after owls that have been injured versus healthy ones. They want to get the food source but avoid the possibility of injury.
Humans often are predators of owls though and they have the upper hand. Humans are known to poison, trap, and to hunt them in order to remove them from particular regions. Many people find the owl to be a problem and they want to have them out of the area so they go to such lengths. Other times the hunting of owls is done for sport as it isn’t common for these birds to be consumed as a source of food.
