Great Horned Owl

The sight of a juvenile Great Horned Owl parked high on a patio brick column caused me to retreat hastily before my presence frightened him or her away. It spent the day there; by the next morning dawn, it was gone. Spotting feathers, I climbed a ladder thinking with trepidation that the little thing had found a resting place to die. Instead, a beheaded juvenile mockingbird remained. The event happened in early December 2011, and, although I hear owls in the distant wooded areas, the juvenile owl I sighted has yet to honor me with its presence again . . . alas.

We live on the outer edge of the suburbs in Minnesota and have a gorgeous one living in our backyard. We have enjoyed the sound and sight of 'our owl' the past 3 years. (S)he is definitely more active in summertime, but we have heard him/her in winter as well.

They are adaptable to urban area but still strongly prefers large areas with natural habitation - often a large not mown park that have both forests and open areas where they can hunt a wide variety of preys. Those near houses or other urban areas may be teenagers wandering or short distance migrantary. I have seen at least one at Bunker Hill Park in the Twin Cities. I tend to see at least one once a year or maybe every second or third year.