The cold, dark months are upon us, the season of the flying tiger. More properly called the great horned owl, this nocturnal predator is easily identified by its large size, bulky shape, yellow eyes and prominant ear tufts. Like its feline namesake, this raptor is both a loner and a ferocious hunter.
Great horned owls are fairly common throughout most of the country. They usually roost in dense woods, emerging at dusk to hunt on fields and grasslands. While they do feed on mice and voles, these owls prefer larger prey such as cottontails, skunk and grouse; they have even been known to kill ground hogs and wild turkey. Their deep hoots become more common as fall gives way to winter, heralding the onset of their breeding season. Often using the abandoned nests of hawks and magpies, great horned owls lay their eggs by late February and their downy young are peering from the nest before spring.
