Great horned owls are one of the most widespread and recognizable owls in North America. Their large size, prominent ear tufts, and deep hooting calls make them a familiar sight across much of the continent. Though great horned owls generally avoid humans, stories and legends of owl attacks on people have persisted for centuries. This has led to the question – has a great horned owl ever truly attacked a human?
To understand the potential for owl attacks, we must first examine the natural history and behavior of great horned owls. As a species, great horned owls are fierce and powerful nocturnal predators. They have an expansive range, inhabiting forests, deserts, wetlands, mountainous areas, and both urban and rural environments across North America. Great horned owls are adaptable generalists and opportunistic hunters, capable of taking prey as small as insects and rodents up to the size of skunks, geese, herons, and even juvenile bobcats. Their strong talons and sharp beaks make them impressive predators. Like other owls, great horned owls have many adaptations that make them effective night hunters, including excellent low-light vision, sensitive hearing, silent flight feathers, and the ability to turn their heads 270 degrees. While they most often ambush prey from a perch, great horned owls sometimes actively soar over open areas in search of a meal.
Despite their reputation as fierce nocturnal predators, great horned owls tend to be shy, elusive, and avoidant of humans in most situations. They do not build their own nests, instead relying on abandoned nests or natural cavities in trees, cliffs, and caves for shelter and reproduction. This makes them dependent on large areas of appropriate habitat. Great horned owls establish breeding territories in late fall and winter, with nesting occurring February through April across most of their range. While defending nest sites or offspring, great horned owls may become aggressive towards intruders. However, even during nesting season, confrontations with humans are uncommon.
Legends and Myths about Owl Attacks
Stories of owls attacking humans have been documented for hundreds of years. In many indigenous cultures, owls were associated with evil spirits, death, and dark witchcraft. To the Aztecs, owls were considered harbingers of sickness and death. This perception persists today in some superstitions about owls. Folk tales featuring owls attacking humans or predicting human death have emerged from communities across Europe and North America.
In Greek mythology, the owl was considered a familiar of the goddess Hecate and a symbol of wisdom, but was also thought to prey upon human children if left outside at night. Roman authors claimed that an owl perched on a pregnant woman’s roof could result in a miscarriage or birth defects. Across Medieval Europe, owls were linked to demonic forces and witchcraft in folklore. Many superstitious beliefs held that witches could transform into owl shapes or that owls were actually witches in disguise. Some European traditions claimed that owls would enter houses and assault sleeping infants, suggesting defensive tactics like hanging owl feathers or placing iron bars over cradles.
Indigenous communities have mixed views on owls in their cultural tradition. In some Native American tribes, owls could be seen as harbingers of sickness and death. One Cherokee tale describes a giant owl called the Uw’tsstsï’, which pretended to befriend a hunter in the woods before attacking him. However, some Western tribes like the Lakota Sioux viewed the owl as a protective spirit. Among the Kwakiutl and Salish peoples, owls held supernatural knowledge that could be accessed by shamans. Across many North American tribes, owls feature prominently in cultural myths and legends.
Modern Reports of Owl Attacks
While stories of owl attacks have been exaggerated over the centuries, contemporary reports indicate they are still a possibility under the right circumstances today. Most owl attacks tend to be defensive in nature, occurring when a person gets too close to a nest or owlets. Nesting female owls may interpret human intruders as predators threatening their young and react aggressively to drive them away. Male owls guarding territory may also attack trespassers near nesting sites.
Some key factors that can prompt owl attacks include:
- Accidentally approaching an active owl nest during breeding season
- Disturbing owlets that have fallen or flown from their nest
- Getting between a female owl and her young
- Attempting to touch or handle wild owls
Attacks are most frequent between the months of February and July when owls are nesting and raising young. However, incidents may occur year-round. Owls typically retreat once the perceived threat to their offspring has left the area. Sightings of owls should always be admired from a safe distance to avoid conflict.
While injuries are very rare, owls have the potential to inflict harm with their sharp talons if provoked. Most attacks are limited to swooping, diving, and buffeting intruders with their wings. However, they are capable of grasping, clawing, and scratching with their feet if defending their nest. Their talons can cause cuts or puncture wounds. There are a few reported cases of owls scratching people near the eyes or resulting in minor head bleeding from scalp wounds. But human fatalities from owl attacks are essentially unheard of.
Recent Owl Attack News Stories
Cyclist in Oregon injured by great horned owl: In 2015, a man biking in Salem, Oregon was attacked by a great horned owl, leaving him with minor head lacerations. The cyclist was near a nesting site and may have been mistaken for a predator by the defensive mother owl. He required medical treatment for cuts on his head.
Jogger in Colorado attacked multiple times by great horned owl: In 2012, a jogger in Colorado Springs reported being attacked by a great horned owl several times over the course of a week. The jogger was ultimately chased briefly and received minor scratches near his scalp from the owl’s talons. Wardens confirmed the presence of a nesting pair nearby that had likely interpreted the jogger as a threat.
Boy in Bellevue, WA attacked by barred owl: In 2019, a barred owl dive-bombed and scratched a 9-year-old boy playing hide-and-seek in a wooded area near Seattle multiple times. The boy received a one-inch cut on his head and scratches on his back. Officials subsequently posted warnings about the aggressive owl nesting in the neighborhood park.
While sensationalized, these incidents of minor injury show that owl attacks sometimes occur in the modern era when humans encroach too closely on active nests. The owls see people as potential predators and respond aggressively to defend their territory. Caution is warranted near any encountered owl nests.
Have There Been Any Owl Attack Fatalities?
While encounters with defensive owls do happen, there are no verified reports of a wild owl causing serious injury or human fatality in modern times. Owl attacks resulting in death are essentially unheard of.
Online searches sometimes produce reports about loggers or farmers being killed by owls over the years. However, these stories almost never cite credible sources and appear to be exaggerated folk tales. One frequently shared article describes how a man’s jugular was ripped out by a great gray owl in Deep Creek, Utah in 1958. But extensive research indicates no evidence that such an incident actually occurred.
It is highly implausible that an owl would be capable of directly killing an able-bodied adult human, even in self defense. The strength and size disparity is simply too great. Owl talons can produce cuts and puncture wounds at most. There are no substantiated medical records of owl attacks inflicting life-threatening trauma on humans. While not impossible, the chances of a deadly owl attack seem astronomically low.
Are Owl Attacks on Pets More Common?
Though human fatalities are non-existent, there are well-documented cases of pet animals like small dogs and cats being attacked by owls defending nest areas. The smaller size of household pets makes them vulnerable to owl strikes.
Cats that roam and hunt outdoors at night may disturb or compete with territorial owls, risking attack. There are multiple accounts of cats being temporarily blinded or injured by owl talons. Smaller breeds of dog have also been injured by swooping owls while walking near nesting sites.
Wild birds kept as pets in outdoor aviaries can also potentially be preyed upon by owls at night if enclosures are not fully enclosed. Reports indicate that parrots, parakeets, and small chickens have been taken through cage openings. Pet birds must be well-protected from predators.
It is best to supervise outdoor pets closely and keep smaller animals indoors at night during nesting season as a precaution. Unattended pets disturbed by nesting owls face a genuine risk of attack and injury.
How to Avoid Conflicts with Owls
The potential for owl attacks on humans is extremely remote, but encounters can be avoided by practicing responsible interaction:
- Maintain at least 100 feet of distance from any observed owl nests
- Do not approach or interact with owlets or fledglings on the ground
- Give owls plenty of undisturbed space if seen while hiking or camping
- Cover small pets if owls are heard actively nesting nearby
- Avoid wooded areas where owls are nesting and diving defensively
- Always wear protective headgear like bike helmets and hard hats near owl nests
- Report any aggressive owl activity to wildlife authorities
Exercising caution around active nests and roost sites will virtually eliminate any risks. But in general, the presence of owls near homes or in urban parks should be valued as a privilege worth protecting.
Conclusions
Mythology and folklore have exaggerated the threat posed by owls over the years. In reality, attacks causing serious harm to humans are extremely rare events. Typical defensive owl behaviors like swooping, diving, and buffeting with wings present little true danger.
However, minor injuries from owl talons can occur if nests are disturbed. Caution is justified during breeding season when owls are protecting eggs or offspring. But fatal owl attacks on humans appear to be non-existent according to all available data. With common sense precautions like maintaining distance and avoiding nests, wildlife enthusiasts can safely enjoy observing these magnificent raptors in the wild.