To catch an owl... ((Spectrum and I think Deerman))

[Wolf-Kim]

Okay, before you all jump on me, know this. I have been an active member of BYC for at least a couple years now. I know the legalities of trapping/shooting birds of prey. I have mulled over my options and have decided to attempt to catch this owl and relocate it. Other members of the community want is shot, but I just feel rotten shooting it.

It has put pellets on my coops and cages and the MIL heard it and saw it fly from one of the yards trees this morning, so it is intent on having more of my birds. I had a mallard male dissapear one night and with the pellets, I'm assuming it was this bird. And obviously with it's constant return, he knows where the food is.

I've seen pictures of owls captured in live traps. How big of a trap did you use, what did you bait it with, where did you place the trap? ((I think I've seen spectrumranch with pictures and I think deerman was the other, so your advice would be greatly appreciated))

-Kim

 

[ruby]

I would put the trap where ever the pellet are. Then depending where you are, the wildlife folks will come and relocate it for you. That's what happened in my neighborhood. The owl was in trouble and Auburn University wildlife management came and caught it. But we do have a big raptor rehab program.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

First, you will need to obtain a legal permit to trap/shoot a raptor or you could find yourself in some serious trouble.

I would not try and catch this owl with a wire trap. Wire can severly injure an owls wings and feathers giving it less of a chance for release...we don't even use wire in our raptor coops for this reason. You will need to use a mesh wire, a nylon type net/trap, or a wooden trap. You should try to contact a raptor center, a game warden, or rehabber for this and you will find someone to come out and help you with this problem. Then once you catch it, you need to hand it over to a Veternarian office, a game warden, or rehabber so that they can properly care for it and ensure that it can be released back into the wild.

And you will want to use live bait - A juvie chick or small rabbit would be best.

Ruby ~ Yes, we have an awesome raptor rehab center here in Alabama. We have several very wonderful rehabbers (including myself) here in Bama too. All of our wildlife are taken very seriously here and everyone does a great job

 

[mypicklebird]

We have barn owls and great horned owls here, and no problems with the chickens. They don't really overlap with each other in time. Owls are in bed by the time I let the chickens out, and chickens are in bed before the owls come out at night. The normal owl prey is gophers, rats, mice (small things) ect. They might go after chicks, but chicks aren't usually out when owls are hunting. An owl flying around during the day has likely been startled out of the tree, and isn't hunting. An adult mallard would be very large prey for any owl, and is larger in weight than any owl I can think of (unlikely the owl could lift off with it). More likely it was taken by a four footed predator. I really like 'our' owls here- since they started hanging around- the rat population has gone WAY down. We actually lost some pullets to rats before we changed our coop set-up. It doesn't surprise me that an owl is hanging around the chicken area, as at night- there may be mice ect to hunt, but the owl may be of benefit to you, not detriment.

 

[spectrumranch]

Quote:
Anytime we have had owls in our live traps- they have never hurt themselves. And have had several.

Our veternian office would not even think of taking an owl. We do alot of private rescue for domestic animals! and I do not see why a live trapped owl would need to be turned over to a rehabber if it is not injuried. YES it's illegal to harm a raptor, IMO livetrapping and relocating (just as the gamewarden would do) is not harming it. At least if you relocate it you can drive it a long ways from your area, where as the game warden will probably let it go a couple miles away, and it would be back in minutes.

If possible place the trap were the prey was eaten. We have always placed the rest of the carcass in the trap for whatever predator killed it as they usually return to that spot.

 

[spectrumranch]

Quote:
Please tell that to my ducks: the owl mistook them for mice.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Quote:
Anytime we have had owls in our live traps- they have never hurt themselves. And have had several.

Our veternian office would not even think of taking an owl. We do alot of private rescue for domestic animals! and I do not see why a live trapped owl would need to be turned over to a rehabber if it is not injuried. YES it's illegal to harm a raptor, IMO livetrapping and relocating (just as the gamewarden would do) is not harming it. At least if you relocate it you can drive it a long ways from your area, where as the game warden will probably let it go a couple miles away, and it would be back in minutes.

If possible place the trap were the prey was eaten. We have always placed the rest of the carcass in the trap for whatever predator killed it as they usually return to that spot.

That is great, and you have been lucky enough not to harm one but as rehabbers, we get this ALOT. That is why mesh are recommended...and it may be 'your opinion' that it is OK to catch one and relocate it but it is a federal offense to do so without a permit

Vets offices will accept raptors/wildlife and contact the proper authorities to get them to. If yours does not, then find one that will. They all will here.

 

[DuckLady]

Closed at request of the OP