Owl

Wisconsin is home to several species of owls, including the great horned owl, barred owl, snowy owl, eastern screech-owl, short-eared owl, northern saw-whet owl and long-eared owl. Sightings of other species such as the northern hawk owl, great gray owl, barn owl, boreal owl and burrowing owl are rare and only found occasionally in the state. Owls are a type of raptor, or bird of prey, that use their sharp beaks and talons to capture and eat other animals such as small mammals, rodents, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Owls primarily hunt at night, with one exception being the snowy owl, which often hunts during the day. They rely heavily on their adept hearing and vision to locate prey.

In Wisconsin, owls generally begin nesting in the late winter to early spring. Often, they will take over vacated stick nests, tree cavities/hollows or old buildings to use for their nests. The number of eggs in a clutch and the incubation period vary by species; however, many will hatch after about a month. More information can be found here via All About Birds. Nestling owls, called owlets, are defenseless for the first couple of weeks and depend on their parents for food and to keep warm. When nestlings depart the nest, they are known as fledglings. Fledglings can control their own body temperature but still rely on their parents for food. Many owlets will begin to fledge after about a month or two and will start to wander outside of the nest or start making short practice flights. By autumn, the young owls will be fully feathered and independent from their parents.

Tip: If you find an owlet alone or on the ground, assess the situation from a distance; not all owlets found alone or on the ground need assistance. It is common for fledgling owlets to leave the nest and spend time on the ground as they learn to fly. The fledgling’s parents are often nearby to keep watch and provide food. You may spot the owlet performing short practice flights or even climbing back up a tree. If the owlet has some non-downy feathers and is active, the best option is to leave it alone.

If the owlet is still completely covered in downy feathers, it is a nestling that is too young to fly and may have fallen from the nest. Make note of where the owlet was found and whether there is a nest nearby; often, it will be in the tree directly above the owlet. Contact the Wisconsin DNR or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to assess the situation before intervening.