Lizzie
Great-Horned Owl Ambassador
Female
2022 / Nestling
Eye injury / Imprinted
About Lizzie
Lizzie was found as a nestling by an individual who kept her illegally for three weeks before trying to sell her to a pet store. She was confiscated by Fish and Wildlife Service Agents, and brought to Liberty Wildlife. Alongside being imprinted to humans, she also had left eye trauma that, while mostly resolved, does have some permanent damage. Due to her eye injury and her non fear of humans, Lizzie cannot be released back into the wild.
Description
The Great horned owls are one of largest owls and are well known for the feather tufts on top of their heads. These Owls are mottled grayish brown, with reddish brown faces and a white patch on the throat. Their overall color tone varies regionally from sooty to pale.
Habitat
Great horned owls live in woods, particularly young woods interspersed with fields or other open areas. They have a broad range of habitats including deciduous and evergreen forests, swamps, desert, tundra edges, and tropical rainforest, as well as cities, orchards, suburbs, and parks.
Range
The great horned owl is found in North and South America from northern Alaska and Canada through Mexico to the tropical rainforest to Tierra del Fuego. It is one of the most widespread and common owls in North America.
Life Span
Great horned owls can live more than 12 years in the wild, with the oldest known wild great horned owl who reached 28 years old. Captive birds can easily live well into their 20’s and 30’s.
Prey / Food
The owl’s diet consists of a wide variety of prey from raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, mice, snakes, insects, geese and other birds to the occasional cat or small dog. One of its favorite foods is the skunk, a slow-moving crepuscular animal with a large white stripe down its back like a neon sign that says, “Eat me!”.
Babies / Nests
Great Horned owls lay 2 – 3 eggs in a clutch. Babies hatch after 30 – 37 days. Youngsters fledge (learn to fly) around 9 – 10 weeks. Great horned owls do not build nests and either take over abandoned nest of a hawk or other large birds or will simply lay the eggs in alcoves, tree hollows, abandoned buildings or even on the ground.
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