SAT22-9 Great Horned Owl Traditional Cache

Owls of Michigan

Michigan, with more than half of the state forested, is home to eleven species of owls. Spotting owls can be tricky since most species are inactive during the day. And owls, by nature, are shy and elusive creatures.

Here are some tips for successful owling:

• Learn – Find out about the species of owls in the area you are looking for.
• Listen – Familiarize yourself with the calls of different owls you can come across and listen actively. You are more likely to hear them before seeing them.
• Look carefully – Owls have excellent camouflage, and their plumages are adapted to blend into the night.
• Signs – Also look out for their pellets which are oblong or spherical and brown or grey in color. A large number of pellets indicates a nearby nesting or roosting owl.
• Be respectful – Be still and silent, and refrain from using bright lights, so as not to disturb or frighten them away.

This cache is one of twelve that were published for the 2022 Autumn in Oakwoods event. Each cache will focus on one of the owls that you will find in the state, many of which can be found right here in Oakwoods. A link to all 12 of the caches may be found HERE.

Great Horned Owl

• Scientific name – Bubo virginianus
• Lifespan – 28 (maximum recorded)
• Size – 17 – 25 in
• Weight – 2.6 – 3.5 lb
• Wingspan – 3 – 5 ft

The great horned owl is a large raptor named for its sizable tufts. Its plumage is mottled greyish-brown above and pale below with brown barring. It has a reddish-brown or grey facial disc and a white throat patch. Great horned owls have long feathers covering their legs and feet.

They are the most widespread of the true owls, occurring all across North America, extending to parts of Central and South America. These owls need a combination of wooded habitats for nesting and roosting and open areas for hunting. They have a wide range of nesting sites, including tree holes, animal dens, burrows, and human-made structures. They occur all across Michigan year-round since they do not typically migrate and usually remain in the same territory for life. Look for them perched around woodland and forest edges, orchards, and farmlands, often near open fields. They can also be found in parks and quiet suburban areas.

Great horned owls have an array of vocalizations, many of which sound strange and sinister. They can be described as a startling combination of hoots, screeches, growls, mews, and squawks. The song is a low-pitched repetitive series of hoots.

Great Horned Owls have an incredibly diverse diet comprising over 200 species of mammals and around 300 bird species. They also take invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even carrion. Their most common prey are rodents, lagomorphs, and ground-feeding birds. Great horned owls hunt nocturnally but are occasionally active during the day.

The great horned owl is a highly adaptable bird with a wide range. However, surveys reflect that the populations have declined. Historically, they were intensively hunted. Another threat is indirect poisoning by harmful pesticides targeted toward their prey. Source: https://avibirds.com/owls-of-michigan/

The Cache: The cache is a medium-sized lock & lock hidden along the river trail.

The permit for this cache has been submitted and approved by the Southern District Interpretive Services Supervisor of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks