The Great Horned Owl

Listen to this owl!

The great horned owl does not really have horns. It has tufts of feathers that look like horns.

Flying on silent wings, the great horned owl hunts at night, killing rabbits, woodchucks, birds as large as turkeys, and even skunks, not bothered by their smell. But most of its diet is made up of mice and rats, thus making the owl a friend to farmers.

The owls don’t build their own nests, but rather use old nests of large birds such as hawks or crows. Often, they will place their eggs in the hollow of a tree, or on the rafters of an old barn. The mother owl will lay three or four eggs.

It has no major predators to fear. However, it can be killed when attacking its prey. This usually happens if a snake is poisonous. This owl's sharp claws called "talons" are used to catch its prey and to defend itself. The most danger it faces is when it is young and helpless. It depends on its parents to take care of it. If it falls from its nest, it will probably die.