Snowy owls are majestic birds that live in the Arctic tundra. With their white plumage and large yellow eyes, it’s easy to see why someone might be tempted to keep one as a pet. However, snowy owls have very specific needs that make them challenging to care for properly in captivity.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about keeping snowy owls as pets:
Are snowy owls legal to own as pets?
In most places, it is illegal to keep snowy owls as pets without special permits and licenses. Snowy owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Do snowy owls make good pets?
No, snowy owls do not make good pets. They have complex needs and require large enclosures and special diets. They are high-maintenance, easily stressed birds that are better suited to the wild.
What are some key factors that make snowy owls poor pets?
Key factors include:
- Very large enclosure needed (minimum of 8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft)
- Live rodents required as main food source
- Sensitive to high temperatures
- Easily stressed
- Require special permits and licenses to own
- Long lifespan (up to 10 years in captivity)
Snowy Owl Natural History
To understand why snowy owls make poor pets, it is important to look at their natural history in the wild:
- Snowy owls are native to the tundra regions of the Arctic, where temperatures are extremely cold.
- They are large birds, with a wingspan of up to 5 feet. Males can weigh up to 6 pounds.
- Snowy owls mainly eat small mammals like lemmings and voles. They need 3-5 small rodents per day to meet their dietary needs.
- These owls are territorial and lead largely solitary lives except during breeding season.
- Snowy owls are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day unlike most other owl species.
- They can live up to 9 years in the wild.
This natural history shows that snowy owls have adapted to survive the harsh Arctic environment. They have very specific needs that would be extremely difficult to properly replicate in captivity.
Housing Requirements
One of the biggest challenges of keeping snowy owls is providing appropriate housing. Snowy owls need very large enclosures:
- Minimum dimensions of 8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft (length x width x height)
- Outdoor aviary or indoor enclosure
- Double-layered walls to help insulate enclosure
- branches and shelves for perching/roosting
- Access to a pool of cold water for bathing
- Areas shielded from direct sunlight to escape heat
- Snowy substrate on the floor
This large space is required to allow the owl adequate room to exercise and flap its wings. Smaller cages or enclosures can cause health problems for snowy owls such as muscle atrophy and heart disease. Proper housing is essential but difficult for the average person to provide.
Dietary Needs
In the wild, snowy owls mainly eat lemmings and other small rodents. An adult snowy owl eats 3-5 small rodents per day on average. They have also been known to eat birds, fish, and carrion.
For a pet snowy owl, it is essential to provide:
- Live rodents (rabbits, rats, mice) for majority of diet
- Supplement with chicks, quail, fish
- Vitamin/mineral supplements added to food
- Clean, fresh water always available
Getting enough live rodents to feed a snowy owl can be challenging, as they will eat several small animals each day. Malnutrition is a top concern for snowy owls in captivity if their dietary needs are not met.
Permitting and Legality
In the United States, Canada, and the UK, it is illegal to keep snowy owls as pets without special permits due to their protected status.
In the US, snowy owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and fines for keeping one illegally can be up to $15,000. Falconry permits are required but still limit activities like public display. Other permits, like educational permits, may also allow snowy owl possession but have restrictions.
In Canada and the UK, snowy owls are also protected species that cannot be owned without permits. The legal restrictions aim to protect wild snowy owl populations from excessive removals by the pet trade.
Acquiring a Snowy Owl
If proper permitting is in place, acquiring a snowy owl for captivity can still be very difficult:
- Captive bred birds are limited – most captive snowies are injured wild birds
- Cost can be $2,500+ for a healthy captive bred owl
- No ethical options for wild capture
- Breeder reputation must be verified to avoid illegal trapping
- Permitted rehabbers rarely place birds needing permanent captivity
There are few reputable breeders offering captive bred snowy owls for the pet trade. Taking a bird from the wild would be extremely unethical due to their protected status. Acquisition alone makes owning this species very improbable for the average person.
Handling and Training
Snowy owls are not social, affectionate animals that enjoy human interaction like some pets. They are prone to stress and handling should be minimized. Taming and training snowy owls involves risks:
- Stress from handling can cause feather damaging
- Require expert falconry training for free flight
- Sensitive digestion prone to upset from treats
- Unpredictable reactions from stressed birds
- Should be housed away from household noise and activity
Expertise is needed to handle and train snowy owls properly. Their sensitive nature makes them prone to stress-related health issues. Even minor disturbances can disrupt their well-being in captivity.
Enrichment
Snowy owls are intelligent, active birds that require enrichment in captivity. This means providing:
- Adequate space for flying and exercise
- Toys like swings, hanging pieces of wood, boxes
- Climbing branches and ropes
- Bathing water tub or mister
- Environmental enrichment like sounds, mirrors, puzzle feeders
- Varied diet with whole carcasses when possible
Without proper enrichment, snowy owls can develop unhealthy repetitive behaviors like pacing or self-mutilation from boredom and stress.
Potential Behavioral Issues
Some potential behavioral issues that may arise with pet snowy owls include:
- Aggression – prone to undirected aggression on caretakers
- Fearfulness – easily startled; may be aggressive when frightened
- Feather damaging – plucking due to stress, boredom
- Repetitive behaviors – stereotypic pacing or motions
These behaviors require experience and patience to properly manage. Working with experts is advisable for snowy owl owners.
Health Concerns
Some key health issues pet snowy owls may face include:
- Obesity – prone with inadequate space and diet
- Musculoskeletal disease – arthritis, bumblefoot from hard perching surfaces
- Feather impingment – overgrown feathers constricting movement
- Stress – cold stress, carbohydrate sensitivity, nutritional disorders
- Aspergillosis – fungal infection often fatal
- Trauma – collisions, accidents; bones brittle from low sun exposure
Snowy owls are very sensitive to their environment and diet. Their healthcare requires an experienced avian veterinarian. Preventing health issues is challenging for the average owner.
Long Lifespan
Snowy owls are long living birds, sometimes reaching 10 years old in captivity. This represents at least a decade long commitment to:
- Properly housing and feeding the owl
- Providing enrichment
- Monitoring health with vet care
- Paying for expenses like food, utilities, veterinary costs
- Arranging care if ever traveling or unable to care for the owl
The extended commitment to owning a snowy owl cannot be underestimated. They can live up to a decade in captivity and require consistent, specialized care.
Expert Recommendations
Avian experts overwhelmingly recommend against snowy owls as pets. Reasons include:
- Extremely high maintenance needs
- Stress prone and sensitive to disturbance
- Require specialized caging and diet
- Risk of behavioral issues from incorrect care
- 10+ year commitment
- Ethical concerns removing from wild populations
Even experienced rehabbers hesitate to take in injured snowy owls due to their demanding care requirements. Snowy owls fare far better free in their natural Arctic habitat.
Financial Considerations
Owning a snowy owl is an expensive endeavor:
- Minimum $2,500 to acquire captive bred bird
- $1,000+ large custom enclosure
- $500+ annually for feeder rodents
- Hundreds annually for vet exams, vaccines, medical care
- Permit fees up to $100+ depending on regulations
The estimated minimum annual cost is $2000-3000 per year for one snowy owl. Few owners are prepared for the substantial financial investment required to meet standards of care.
Is it Legal to Own a Snowy Owl?
In most regions globally, it is illegal to own a snowy owl as a pet without special licensing or permits. Permits for private ownership are limited. Fines for illegal possession of protected snowy owls can be up to $15,000 in the US.
Where Can Snowy Owls Be Kept as Pets?
Snowy owls are restricted in the US, Canada, UK and most regions globally. Falconry permits may allow possession in some areas like parts of the US. Educational or propagation permits also exist in special cases but are very limited.
Do Snowy Owls Like to Be Pet?
No, snowy owls do not enjoy being petted or handled. They are not social or affectionate towards humans and handling them can increase stress. Any contact should be minimal for required medical care only.
Should Snowy Owls Be Pets?
No, snowy owls make poor pets and fare far better in the wild. Their specialized needs for space, temperature control, diet, enrichment and low stress are nearly impossible for the average owner to meet properly. Removing them from Arctic ecosystems also raises ethical concerns over conservation.
Conclusion
While beautiful and intriguing birds, snowy owls do not make good pets and it is best to admire them in their natural Arctic habitat. They have extremely complex care needs that are challenging even for experts to meet in captivity. Acquiring and keeping a snowy owl legally also involves permits, substantial expense and a long-term commitment. For these reasons, snowy owls are wild birds that should remain living freely on the remote tundra.
