Muskoka Wildlife Centre





  
American Toad
Viber
Badger
Dozer
Sandy
Bald Eagle
Thorondor
Hal
Barn Owl
Barney (a.k.a. Moonface)
Silo
Beaver
Woodrow
Millie
Black Bear
Kootenay
Black Rat Snake
Kingston
Licorice
Blanding's Turtle
Oliver
Bobcat
Rufus
Box Turtle
Murtle
Bull Frog
Fergus
Cottontail Rabbit
Peter
Cougar
Kokanee
Eastern Fox Snake
Copper
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Olive
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
Snorkel
Fisher
Mike
Five-Lined Skink
Liz
Flying Squirrel
Pixie
Peanut
Garter Snake (Common)
Sir Hiss
Great Horned Owl
Dr. Hoo (not on display)
Green Frog
Kermit
Gargoyle
Grey Tree Frog
Twiggy
Groundhog/Woodchuck
Clover
Kestrel
Punk
Leopard Frog
Hoppy
Lynx
Yeti
Map Turtle (Northern)
Atlas
Marten
Conifer
Milk Snake
Beatrice
Moose
Chocolate
Lucky
Northern Bobwhite
Bob
Painted Turtle
Raphael
Willamina
Peregrine Falcon
Apollo
Porcupine
Quillber
Thistle
Raccoon
Dawn
Juniper
Latte
Raven
Edgar
Nevermore
Red Fox
Fenn
Renard
Red-tailed Hawk
Will Scarlet (not on display)
Saw-whet Owl
Luna
Snapping Turtle
Sam
Junior (not on display)
Spotted Salamander
Happy
Stinkpot Turtle
Lily (not on display)
Striped Skunk
Flower
Turkey Vulture
Barfalomew (not on display)
Wolf
Montana
Akayla
Wolverine
Hyde
Gulo
Wood Turtle
Oakley


Dr. Hoo (not on display) the Great Horned Owl



Share Dr. Hoo (not on display) the Great Horned Owl's Story
Born: 1997
Sex: Female
  A wildlife television production company purchased Dr.Hoo from a captive bird breeding facility.  She was hand raised and trained to star in the television series and was in need of a permanent home after filming was complete.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Average Size: Average Weight:
1-1.5m (3-4.6ft) wingspan Males 1-1.6 kg (2.2-3.5 lbs), females 1.3-2.5 kg (3-5.5 lbs).
Average Lifespan: Range:
Up to 50 years. Widespread throughout Ontario.

Dining and Dwelling

Life and Death

The great horned owl will feed on almost any living creature that it is able to overpower, such as mammals from mice to foxes, birds (including other owls), reptiles, fish and large insects.  These owls occupy a great variety of habitats from subarctic coniferous forests to arid deserts to wooded city parks.  They nest in trees, in caves, on cliff edges or even on the ground.

The great horned owl lays 2-3 eggs from early January to February.  After hatching the owlets spend 10 days to two weeks in the nest protected by their parents until they are capable of flight.

These owls are at the top of the food chain and are rarely predated by other animals.  Humans often kill great horned owls when they are found preying on farm animals such as chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and even house cats.

That's Amazing

  • This owl is one of the only predators of the skunk and seems unaffected by the skunks odorous spray.
  • Great horned owls have a habit of decapitating their prey, leaving it's headless body behind.