Snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) are large, white owls that live in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. They are known for their stunning white plumage and yellow eyes. Snowy owls have captured the fascination of people for centuries, but one question that often arises is – are snowy owls friendly?
Quick Facts about Snowy Owls
Here are some quick facts about snowy owls:
- Snowy owls are medium to large sized owls, with females reaching lengths of 23 inches and wingspans up to 5 feet.
- They have bright yellow eyes, round heads without ear tufts, and sharply hooked black beaks.
- Their feathers are mostly white, but females and young owls can have dark brown barring.
- Snowy owls are diurnal hunters, meaning they are active during the day.
- They mainly eat lemmings, but also voles, Arctic hares, ptarmigan and other birds.
- Snowy owls nest on the ground, especially on elevated mounds or hills.
- The owls are native to the tundra regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia.
- They are known for being irruptive, meaning they can migrate further south in search of food during years when lemming populations crash.
So in summary, snowy owls are large, white owls of the Arctic tundra that hunt during the day for small mammals and birds. Their irruptive migration patterns sometimes bring them further south and into contact with humans.
Snowy Owl Behavior and Temperament
When considering if snowy owls are friendly, it is important to understand their natural behavior and temperament in the wild. Here are some key points:
Territory and Nesting
- Snowy owls are very territorial and will defend their nesting areas aggressively against intruders, including humans.
- During nesting season, snowy owls will dive bomb and attack any perceived threats to their eggs or young owlets.
- Nesting snowy owls may give warning calls, vocalizations, or feign injury to distract predators from their nest.
Feeding
- When hunting, snowy owls rely on stealth and surprise attacks to catch prey like lemmings.
- They have keen eyesight and hearing to help locate prey, even beneath snow.
- Snowy owls are opportunistic and will scavenge for food as well as actively hunt.
Interactions with Humans
- Snowy owls have little natural fear of humans since they rarely encounter them in the remote Arctic.
- They can be quite tolerant of human presence when not nesting or feeding.
- Irruptive snowy owls may perch and rest near roads or airports out of convenience rather than friendliness.
- While serious attacks on people are rare, snowy owls will aggressively defend territories and nests so keeping distance is recommended.
So overall, snowy owls display territorial behaviors but can become accustomed to human activity, especially outside of breeding season. Caution is still warranted around nests and hunting owls.
Experiences with Snowy Owls
To shed more light on the question of whether snowy owls are friendly, here are some accounts of interactions between the birds and people:
Irruptions Bring Snowy Owls and Humans Together
During irruption years, snowy owls fly much further south from their Arctic breeding grounds, sometimes as far south as the United States. This brings the owls into much closer contact with humans than normal. While the owls may appear quite docile when observed at airports, fields, or beaches in these years, it is often more a case of the owls tolerating the human disturbance rather than actively seeking friendly interaction. They will still defend themselves if threatened.
Feeding and Baiting
There are many accounts of snowy owls allowing humans to approach very closely when they are feeding on prey. However, ornithologists warn that this is not evidence that the owls enjoy human company. More likely it indicates that the owls are locked into feeding behavior and won’t take flight. Baiting snowy owls with food often gives the false impression that they are tame or friendly towards humans.
Nesting Defense
There are historical accounts of humans being attacked and cut by the sharp claws of nesting snowy owls after getting too close to their nests. Females are particularly aggressive when defending their eggs and young. So while snowy owls may appear docile, extreme caution should be used around any nests.
Curiosity and Habituation
Some snowy owls demonstrate curiosity about human activity, especially in areas where ecotourism brings people specifically to see the birds. This interest is more likely simple curiosity than friendliness, but these owls can become quite habituated to humans. They may allow fairly close observation and photography. But attempting to touch or feed the owls is still strongly discouraged.
Rehabilitation Success
Injured snowy owls do often adapt well to captivity when rehabilitated by experienced raptor experts and zoo keepers. These owls seem to tolerate their human caretakers and can become quite docile. However, this level of habituation requires consistent careful human contact from a very young age. Still, their natural wild instincts remain so human friendship would be an exaggeration.
So while individual experiences certainly vary, most evidence indicates snowy owls are innately wild birds that do not seek true friendship or companionship with people. They can adapt to tolerate our presence, but require healthy distance and caution.
Conclusion
While appearing majestic, docile, and beautiful when observed, snowy owls are still powerful raptors that should not be directly approached or disturbed for the safety of both the owls and people. Their natural behavior includes defending territories aggressively. However, snowy owls do demonstrate an ability to habituate to human activity and may allow close observation if not nesting or feeding. Their tolerance of humans may give an exaggerated impression of friendliness in some isolated cases. But fundamentally, befriending wild snowy owls on an interpersonal level is an unrealistic goal and attempts would be unwise. With distance and respect for their space, we can still admire their graceful beauty as they survive a harsh Arctic existence.
Key Points
- Snowy owls can be quite territorial and aggressive when defending nests and feeding areas.
- They generally avoid humans in the remote Arctic but may grow tolerant of human activity, especially when irruptive.
- Accounts of friendliness are more likely feeding tolerance or curiosity rather than a desire for companionship.
- Baiting or attempting to touch/handle wild snowy owls is extremely unwise and may provoke attack.
- A safe distance must be maintained from snowy owls at all times in the wild.
Snowy Owl Information
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
Species: B. scandiacus
Population and Conservation Status
Region | Population | Trend | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|---|
Global | Several hundred thousand | Decreasing | Least Concern |
United States and Canada | Around 20,000 | Variable by region | State/Province Dependent |
Eurasian Arctic | Tens of thousands | Decreasing | Vulnerable |
Snowy owl global populations are estimated to be in the several hundred thousand but are in decline in certain regions. They are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but Eurasian populations are listed as Vulnerable. Regional conservation status varies from Special Concern to Endangered depending on local conditions and populations.
Key Threats
Some key threats facing snowy owl populations:
- Habitat degradation in breeding areas from resource extraction and development
- Declines in lemming populations reduce food availability
- Climate change impacting breeding and wintering areas
- Collisions with vehicles and aircraft
- Secondary poisoning from rodenticides
- Disturbance near nest sites
Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, restrictions around nests, working with airports to reduce collisions, and public education programs.
Appreciating Snowy Owls from a Distance
While we may never get to consider snowy owls as our feathery friends, we can still appreciate the grace, beauty, and natural behaviors of these powerful Arctic raptors. Some tips for responsibly observing wild snowy owls include:
- Maintain at least 30 yards distance and use binoculars or telephoto lenses rather than approaching
- Never bait or use rodent calls to attract owls
- Avoid prolonged observation of nests or feeding owls
- Do not enter territories with nest markers or warning owls
- Support ethical owl tours, guides, and eco-lodges when available
- Avoid flash photography or loud noises around owls
- Keep pets away from owls
- Report injured owls to wildlife rehabilitators
- Respect closed areas around nests and feeding sites
Following these simple guidelines allows us to safely enjoy observing magnificent snowy owls in the wild without disturbing them or putting them at risk. Seeing a snowy owl up close is a special experience. We can continue to ensure that experience remains possible for future generations through responsible stewardship. If given space, snowy owls and humans can mutually coexist.