Does anyone know anything about great horned owl
 

So tonight I went outside to get something and saw this owl in my yard right around dusk. It let me get about 3 feet away from it before it flew off. I left in my car and came back about 20 mins later and he was standing in my driveway. I got out of the car and got about 3 feet away from it before it flew away up into this tree. Now I grabbed my camera and took some pictures of it and it did not move. Just watches me. I went back inside and then went out a few more times to check and he was there. I just went to dinner and came back and he is still sitting in the tree. Now he will let me get super close to him in the tree and won't move just looks at me.

Are owls supposed to be this tame? I never saw one and it is wierd that he is letting me get so close. Could it have rabbies? I did a google search but can't really find anything that says how close they should let you get. He looks like a baby owl. I will try and post some pics later.

I would stay away from it, an early stage of rabies is the animal will not be afraid of you and actually seem friendly and stay near you.

There used to be a great horned owl who lived in the woods behind my house. If it's a baby, it probably just doesn't know any better.

Not sure if this picture will work.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...97497_6820.jpg

Owls do not contract nor carry rabies.

I was thinking that when I posted, but I didn't feel like googling rabies.. it's a mammal thing, right?

Nice so you think he is just really friendly? :mrgreen: He looks lost.

I am sure he knows exactly where he is. Owls are fairly intelligent birds. He obviously doesn't feel threatened. Probably hunting rodents, rabbits or other small furry creatures in the neighborhood. And yes, rabies is a mammal thing - not avian.

I think there are some dead mice in the trap. Maybe I will go put those out for him to eat.

Is it a coincidence that ace ventura pet detective is on tv? haha.

haha. if he's just a baby, he's probably curious.

I'd be worried about a momma owl though. However, he might be the stage where he was kicked from the nest and has to hunt for himself.

Be careful about putting food out, he might keep coming back & try to nest in your house.

owls are birds of prey, and their beaks will **** you the hell up...

don't try to touch him, and don't feed him... especially if it is a young animal, you do not want to train it that humans are ok to go near... b/c while you might be, other people certainly are not.

owls are highly intelligent animals, i'm sure it is looking for a good hunting ground or is waiting out the death of something it has spotted. I'd take pictures... but let him be

Baby or not, he should not be letting you get that close. It is definitely strange. Possibly ill or maybe was recently injured and suffereing from shock.

it is possible with a baby to get that close.

my parents neighbor ended up rescuing a baby peregrine falcon from a construction site. The bird would sit on his gloved hand and actually let you touch him... the bird ended up going to someone with a falconry license/permit.

If this bird hangs around and continues to let you get close... call the spca or something, let them know. An adult definitely wouldn't let you get that close. Baby's are inquisitive... just don't mess with him, let the spca/animal rescue come and see if the bird needs to be placed somewhere for it's health and safety

^x2 I would just keep watching it and see if its hanging around still, dont offer it food, nor try to touch it.

its probably sick but how to do you it was a great horned owl? they are huge. they can get 30" tall

i actually was just reading yesterday that alot of birds are raised outside of the nest, not sure if owl was included. if u say it looks like a baby, just take some pictures to show us! we wanna see!!! lol..but don't touch him or feed him, mama owl could be closer than you think...they can blend in pretty well.

I tried to post pictures from my facebook but I failed. I guess I will have to load them someplace else.

I think it is a great horned owl because of the pictures I found on google. It looks like one, same color, face, and so on, just really small.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...97498_7122.jpg

You should capture him an put him on EBAY.

"Friendly Owl For Sale. Like New Condition"

I might try and catch him tonight and see how friendly he is. HAHA. JK