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I have surveyed for spotted owls for many years and while I have never =
been attacked by a spotted owl (although I know of a couple of instances =
and have been incidently hit by spotted owls a couple of times) I have =
been attacked twice by barred owls. The second time, at night while =
calling for spotted owls, the owl also hit me in the head from behind =
and nearly knocked me off my feet. There was a knot on my head that =
lasted for a week.
For the spotted owl, and I would assume it is similar for the barred and =
great horned, the young are with the adults until sometime later this =
fall. I have found young still with adults into October, so the attacks =
may be related to getting too close to young owls.
Also, there are some owls which seem to be, for whatever reason, more =
aggressive than others (as in humans). There was one spotted owl pair =
in my area where the female would consistantly swoop on those coming =
near the young owls. However, the vast majority seem comfortable with =
close contact. I have even touched some spotted owl young without =
getting a reaction from the adults that had full view of what I was =
doing.
One other note - spotted owls will respond year round to calling and =
barred owls may also (I've tested the former, not the latter). If not =
associated with young, it may also be territorial from an overly =
aggressive owl.
Bob Pearson
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I have surveyed for spotted owls for =
many years=20
and while I have never been attacked by a spotted owl (although I know =
of a=20
couple of instances and have been incidently hit by spotted owls a =
couple of=20
times) I have been attacked twice by barred owls. The second time, =
at=20
night while calling for spotted owls, the owl also hit me in the head =
from=20
behind and nearly knocked me off my feet. There was a knot on my =
head that=20
lasted for a week.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>For the spotted owl, and I would =
assume it is=20
similar for the barred and great horned, the young are with the adults =
until=20
sometime later this fall. I have found young still with adults =
into=20
October, so the attacks may be related to getting too close to young=20
owls.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Also, there are some owls which seem =
to be, for=20
whatever reason, more aggressive than others (as in humans). There =
was one=20
spotted owl pair in my area where the female would consistantly swoop on =
those=20
coming near the young owls. However, the vast majority seem =
comfortable=20
with close contact. I have even touched some spotted owl young =
without=20
getting a reaction from the adults that had full view of what I was=20
doing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>One other note - spotted owls will =
respond year=20
round to calling and barred owls may also (I've tested the former, not =
the=20
latter). If not associated with young, it may also be territorial =
from an=20
overly aggressive owl.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Bob =
Pearson</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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