This cache is part of the Auburn Hills Recreation Geocache Challenge. These caches are for the various animals that you may encounter in Michigan. Find the missing word at each cache and fill it in to the geocache decoder found at the end of the Auburn Hills Park Adventure Journal. Turn your completed book into the Auburn Hills Community Center for a fun prize! Please respect all park rules & regulations and please replace all caches as you found them. Thank You and have fun Geocaching!
(LAUNCHING SUMMER 2026) AUBURN HILLS GEOCACHING CHALLENGE DECORDER
Barn Owls are _____________, which means they are active at night. They roost during the day in tree cavities, cliff crevices, riverbanks, barns, nest boxes, and other man-made structures.
Fun Fact: These owls have very scary nicknames such as Demon Owl, Ghost Owl, or Hobgoblin. The Barn Owl gets these names because of their striking white face markings, scream like call and the common myth that they are bad omens or dangerous to farms.
Common Name: American Barn Owl
Scientific Name: Tyto furcata
Size: 13 to 15 in in length with wingspans ranging from 31 to 37 in
Range, Habitat & Physical Description:
Barn Owl’s are found throughout North and South America but is one of the rarest owls in Michigan, being listed as endangered on the state level. Its most recognizable feature is its "mask-like" face, a heart shaped facial disc made of white feathers. The Barn Owl does not hoot but instead produces a characteristically loud screech, which is compared to a howling scream.
Behavior, Lifestyle & Diet:
Barn owls are cavity nesters, meaning they live in holes in trees, cliff faces, or the large nests of other birds. They choses habitats which are in open fields or adjacent to them for hunting and safety from nest predators like raccoons. They primary feed on small rodents but will feed on other small vertebrates like reptiles, amphibians, birds, or insects. The Barn Owl has acute hearing, with ears placed asymmetrically for improved detection of sound position and distance.
Relationships With Humans & How YOU Can Help Them:
As the name suggests, Barn Owls also love to live in barns and other outdoor structures where rodents are found in high numbers. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents than possibly any other creature. This makes the Barn Owl one of the most economically valuable wildlife animals to farmers. Unfortunately, rat poison has seen a dramatic rise in use at farms, which has negatively affected the Barn Owl population. When an owl eats a poisoned rat, which are easier to catch, they are also poisoned and often die as a result. This combined with habitat loss has led to a sharp decline of barn owls in the Midwest, there have only been two confirmed barn owl sightings in Michigan since 2000.
The best thing you can do for them is to NOT use rat poison. Barn Owls could replace poison as the most popular method for rodent control and would do it better with less impact on the environment. Poisoned rats can also kill other predators who eat them including birds of prey, foxes, coyotes, and even domestic pets like cats and dogs.