Great horned owls spotted more frequently in Tucson neighborhoods

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) — Great horned owls are appearing with increasing frequency in Tucson backyards, apartment complexes, and neighborhoods across southern Arizona — and some residents say the encounters feel uncomfortably close.

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For three nights in a row, a great horned owl sat on 13 News anchor Rebecca Taylor’s fence and stared at her small, deaf puppy.

Then one night, it dove.

Taylor is not alone. Across southern Arizona, residents are reporting more great horned owl sightings than ever.

What residents are seeing

Mason Lopez said the owls seem unbothered by people or their pets. While walking his dogs in Tucson, he captured video of one perched on his balcony.

“I turn around, and I see this figure just sitting on the balcony,” Lopez said. “What is that? I took a closer look, and it’s an owl. And it’s just staring at me. Like daggers just staring at me.”

What data shows

Arizona Game and Fish handled 468 raptor reports statewide last year. Southern Arizona accounted for 124 of those cases.

That’s an average of two calls per week.

While the data covers all types of raptors, only a fraction of those reports are owl-related.

What experts say about threat

The idea that a great horned owl can swoop down and carry off a small dog or cat has circulated for years. Amanda Timmerman, a trainer and collection specialist for Raptor Free Flight at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, said that belief is not accurate.

“It’s a really fun urban legend, death from above, swooping down and carrying off a dog or cat,” Timmerman said. “Usually what’s happening is it’s nesting season. Owls have babies; they have a nest. The adults will dive bomb and try to drive away, sometimes people, cars, dogs, cats — they just want everything out of their space.”

Timmerman said the birds are physically incapable of carrying significant weight over distance.

“Our local owls only weigh two to three pounds,” she said. “They’re physically incapable of lifting up a small dog or cat and carrying it off.”

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In rare cases, smaller animals have been harmed. Timmerman said documented incidents are uncommon and typically involve defensive behavior.

“Usually if we have an actual injury from an owl to a dog or cat it’s that sort of thing,” she said. “They just want them out of their space. And then it’s a scratch, cut, or puncture wound.”

Why owls are in Tucson — and what they’re eating

Timmerman said there are approximately 25 known nesting pairs in Tucson at any given time. An owl pellet survey found the birds are primarily eating pigeons and packrats.

“So they do help with our pests,” she said.

For Lopez, the encounter was equal parts unsettling and unforgettable.

“Oh, definitely. Nature is a beautiful thing, and I hope to see more of them soon,” he said.

What to do if owls show up on your property

Arizona Game and Fish recommends keeping property clear of brush and debris where rodents tend to shelter. Timmerman said bright lights can also deter owls.

Because great horned owls are federally protected, it is illegal to harm, harass, or disturb their nests. Residents who spot an owl behaving aggressively near their home are encouraged to report it to Arizona Game and Fish.

Timmerman said pet owners should keep animals inside or supervised outdoors for a week or two during nesting season.

“And enjoy the view,” she said. “Because baby owls are pretty funny. They leave the nest before they can fly. They’re a little bit like Muppets on the ground. That’s a lot of the videos that were shared. Owls that don’t know what they’re doing. They’re just perched in weird places, like looking at everything.”

Some video courtesy of Explore.org and Owl Research Institute.

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