Dr. Hoo (not on display) was acquired .  A wildlife television production company purchased Dr.Hoo from a captive bird breeding facility.  She was handraised 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)

Dining and Dwelling

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. 

Life and Death

The great horned owl lays 2-3 eggs from early January to February.  After hatching the owlets spend 10 days to two weeks on 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.