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Dear
Jacob,
The
opportunistic Eastern Screech Owl will eat almost any animal
smaller than itself. Like most owls these birds feed exclusively
on live prey which they catch and kill with their sharp talons.
Studies of the Eastern Screech Owl show that these birds prey
on at least 4,917 different prey items including mammals,
birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and even some fish! Most
frequently, however, the birds eat small mammals, especially
rodents like mice.
The
best way to feed a screech owl is to provide a good habitat
for it. Leave some "rough edges" on your property.
This will encourage the wildlife and provide a prey base for
the owls. You can also install a Screech
Owl Box which gives the birds a safe nesting environment.
Plans
for the boxes are available from the Southeaster Raptor Center
Web site.
Did you know that the Eastern Screech Owl can be found throughout
the United States east of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic
Ocean? The species ranges from Canadian forests south to Mexico.
They live in all types of forests and prefer woodlands that
have open clearings, meadows and fields necessary for hunting.
They also inhabit wetlands, orchards, suburban parks and gardens
and towns. The Eastern Screech Owl can be either red or gray
in color. These differences in color are not related to sex
or age. The rusty red owl is more common in the southern states,
while the gray one is more common in the North and, for some
unknown reason, in southern Texas.
Remember that the Screech Owl is a federally protected species.
Enjoy it, watch it and provide for it, but don't harass it
in any way. Owls, while intriguing and interesting, do not
make good pets and it is illegal to keep them in captivity.
Enjoy it in the wild but don't try to catch it!
Thanks
for your question,
Aubie and Roy Crowe
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Jacob
Parmer