Owl myths and beliefs regarding keeping owls as pets

Many cultures, including some Native American tribes, consider owls to be a symbol of death. For instance, for the Apache people, seeing an owl in a dream meant that they were about to die. The Cree people heard the calls of boreal owls from spirits. If you whistled back to the owl and didn’t hear back, it meant that your death was near. In addition, owls are rarely kept as pets in Nigeria due to people’s fear of the dangers they pose. On the other hand, the Dakota Hidatsa believed that burrowing owls served as guardians for warriors, so not all owls were evil.

In addition, in the Western and Eastern regions of Nigeria, owls are associated with witchcraft. People believed that witches could transform into owls and come to suckle babies’ blood. In some cultures, owls were merely witches’ messengers or were hooted to warn of an approaching witch. In other cultures, however, the owl was revered. Owls are considered sacred by Australian Aborigines because they represent the spirits of women. The Kwakiutl people also believed that owls were people’s souls and should not be killed because if the owl was killed, the soul it carried would die as well. In fact, after death, many cultures believed that a person transformed into an owl.

OWLS ARE ABLE TO TURN THEIR HEADS A LITTLE, IF AT ALL.
Legend has it that owls can turn their heads around 360 degrees. The flying creatures have 270 degrees of total development and can turn their necks 135 degrees in either direction. Researchers say that the owls are able to stop people in their tracks that far without cutting off blood supply to the brain thanks to changes in their bones, veins with contractile stores, and a supporting vascular system.

OWL FLIGHT HAS NO VOICE.
Owls fly silently, in contrast to most other birds. They have specialized feathers that break up turbulence into smaller currents, which makes the birds quieter. The velvety soft down further reduces noise.

The strongest babies are fed first by owls.
As unforgiving as it sounds, the watchmen constantly feed the most settled and most grounded owlet before its family. This indicates that the youngest chicks will starve if food is scarce., An owlet often lives nearby in the same tree after leaving the nest, where its parents continue to feed it. Its odds of survival are good if it can survive the first winter by itself.

Farmers can control pests naturally with owls.
Many rodents are eaten by owls. In a four-month breeding cycle, a single barn owl family will consume 3,000 rodents. In a single year, an owl can consume 50 pounds of gophers. In the hope that owls will eliminate pests like gophers and voles from their land, many farmers are installing nesting boxes for owls. In addition to being safer and less expensive than poison, this natural method of pest control is also better for the owls. Each year, poisoned rodents consumed by owls result in the deaths of numerous birds.

In ancient Greece, the Little Owl was the companion of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. This is one reason why owls are a symbol of learning and knowledge. OWLS WERE ALSO A SIGN OF VICTORY IN BATTLE. However, Athena was also a goddess of war, and the owl was thought to protect armies going into battle. During battle, Greek soldiers took an owl’s passing as a sign of imminent victory.

Additionally, a symbol of death.
Since ancient times, owls have been associated with evil, death, and various superstitions. In many cultures, owls were regarded as a warning sign of death. For instance, it was believed that an owl foresaw Julius Caesar’s demise. They have also been linked to witches and other alleged evil beings. Even though this may appear to be fun for Halloween, there are still a lot of societies that have beliefs about owls, and in some places, owls are killed because of these beliefs.

Unfounded superstitions like these pose a threat to the existence of owls, which hunt at night silently. The myths are reinforced by horror films and decorations for Halloween, where they are associated with eerie nighttime themes and portrayed as witchcraft and magic symbols or omens of destruction and death.

Children are frequently afraid of them due to their wide, staring eyes and the tufts of feathers that give them the appearance of horned devils. Even their physical appearance can be frightening to the uninformed.

Things You Should Know About Keeping an Owl as a Pet The nature of owls is very different from that of domesticated birds like parrots. They each have distinct and powerful personalities. Their characteristics make them unsuitable for regular pet ownership. Taking special care of and maintaining owls takes a lot of effort. In addition, they must be content and free of stress, which is more important.

Nature’s Attachment Owls frequently develop strong attachments to their handlers or caregivers. If their caregiver is physically absent, it can be extremely challenging for those who have been raised by humans from birth, which can lead to stress. This is due to the fact that owls form long-lasting bonds with their family and mate, despite their inherent antisocial nature. The person who takes care of captive owls becomes their family. Your owl might not like it when someone else feeds it, and it might even be hostile toward the person who comes to feed it.

No Stroking/Nestling
Something else to remember is that commonly, owls could do without to be nestled and embraced. Actually, it is bad to stroke the feathers because the covering that keeps them from getting wet wears off when they are stroked. When touched, they might even bite. The personality of every bird is unique. Additionally, because they are territorial and possessive of their caregiver, they may refuse to accept another individual they perceive as a threat. If you refuse, your pet might also attack someone you care about. Although they may not always attack, it is in their nature. They are also difficult to train, and the caregiver must have a lot of patience and understanding.

Finding a Vet When it comes to your pet’s health, it’s very important to take good care of it and make sure it’s in good physical shape. However, it is challenging to locate a veterinarian who is qualified to treat owls appropriately. Every time your bird gets sick, you will probably have to take it to the nearest aviary. Additionally, if the owl is being domesticated without the appropriate permits, it is even less likely that a veterinarian will risk treating it.

Accommodation Because owls are large birds with a wide wingspan of up to 5 feet, their housing needs to be large and comfortable. Consequently, a large pen of at least 20 feet is required. Instead of keeping them in a pen, it is suggested that you give them a perch with a special leash. It is essential to keep in mind that before settling on the perch, owls must flap their wings several times. They run the risk of getting a chest infection if they are unable to do this.

Food A freezer that can hold whole, raw animals is necessary. Raw animals are what owls require, not store-bought bird feed. You will need to hunt these animals, gut them, and feed them to your owl, or you can buy them from a store. Therefore, prior to considering petting this bird, ensure that you will be able to do so. If you can, then excellent. Because the bird requires this diet, this is important. It is the food it consumes in its natural environment. Furthermore, on the off chance that it isn’t given this eating routine, the bird will become undesirable and deprived, which is horrible.

In many parts of the world, it is against the law to keep owls as pets. Those who decide to keep an owl despite the law face a number of additional issues. When a bird becomes ill, it is usually necessary to take it to a raptor-specific veterinarian. Your typical veterinarian lacks the specialized training necessary to treat these amazing birds. Because you need a permit and extensive training to become a certified and bonded professional raptor handler, taking an owl to a veterinarian puts an illegal owner at risk of being caught, fined, and even jailed.