Why keep owls in captivity?

When people see me at talks and shows they often ask why I don't let my owls go back to the wild.  Well firstly non of my 3 owls have ever been wild.  They were all bred in captivity so would not survive long if released as they do not have the essential knowledge and skills needed by all wild animals.  Although they still have wild instincts there are many things that they would have learned from their parents about how and where to hunt, what to avoid, and where to hide during the day.  It only takes a few days without food to kill an owl.

My three owls were given to me for the sole purpose of educating people about these birds and ultimately convincing them that we must all conserve our wildlife.  I take them to shows and talks all over the south west, but especially enjoy showing them to children and people with disabilities.

Leif Erikkson helping BBC's Children in Need

Can anyone keep owls?

In short yes, but because they can does not always mean that they should.  Before purchasing an owl the following should be considered:

• Owls require a large aviary to enable them to keep fit and mentally stimulated.
• Owls can live for 20-25 years.
• They require whole animals to eat in order to keep them healthy (including bones and fur/feathers) so you will need a freezer for their food.
• They are very messy and their aviaries will need regular cleaning.
• Owls can be noisy, especially at night, so near nieghbours are not always a good idea.
• Lastly, some species require a license to keep, and you must ensure that you have proof of your owls captive-bred roots as it is illegal to keep wild owls in captivity unless they are disabled and even then they must not be shown in public.

Otus at home in his wooded aviary