Hoolie was just a few days old when she was found on the ground in Cabell County, WV, in the Spring of 2006. The people that found her kept her as a pet for weeks, imprinting her on humans forever. Since it is illegal to keep wild birds without federal written permits, a West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer confiscated her and turned her over to TRAC. Because Hoolie identifies with humans as her species due to her early captivity, she cannot be released back into the wild. She weighs about 4 pounds and has a five foot wingspan.
Great Horned Owls can be found in a wide variety of habitats throughout North, Central, and South America, from city parks to deep woods, deserts to arctic tundra, sea level to the tops of tall mountains. They eat a wide variety of animals, including rodents, amphibians, raccoons, snakes, and skunks (one of their favorite foods!). They nest in the very early spring in trees, frequently using nests borrowed from crows or red-tailed hawks.
This works out well since the owlets are out of the nest and gone long before the crows or hawks need the nest. They raise 3–4 chicks per year, mate for life, and can live to be around 30 years old.
