Barred owls are common nocturnal birds of prey across North America, known for their distinctive “Who cooks for you?” call. A frequent question concerns their diet, specifically whether they prey on domestic animals like cats. Understanding their natural hunting behaviors and physical capabilities helps clarify the actual likelihood of such interactions.
Typical Barred Owl Prey
Barred owls are opportunistic predators, hunting a variety of available animals within their habitat. Their diet primarily consists of small mammals, including rodents such as voles, mice, shrews, and squirrels. They also regularly consume rabbits, opossums, bats, and weasels.
Beyond mammals, barred owls incorporate other vertebrates and invertebrates into their meals. Their prey includes various birds, amphibians like frogs and salamanders, and reptiles such as snakes and lizards. Aquatic creatures like fish and crayfish are also part of their diet, alongside large insects. Barred owls typically swallow smaller prey whole, while larger items are consumed in pieces, often headfirst.
Barred Owl Size and Predatory Reach
Barred owls are medium to large-sized owls, with physical characteristics defining their hunting capacity. Their body length ranges from 16 to 24 inches (43 to 51 cm), and they possess an impressive wingspan of 39 to 44 inches (107 to 111 cm).
An adult barred owl generally weighs between 1 and 2.5 pounds (470 to 1050 grams), with females being slightly larger and heavier. While formidable predators, their physical dimensions and strength impose limits on the size of prey they can effectively capture and carry. Barred owls focus on fairly small-sized prey, though capable of taking animals as large as opossums or rabbits. Some reports suggest they can carry prey weighing up to 5 pounds, roughly two to three times their own body weight.
Barred Owls and Domestic Animals
Given their size and typical prey, predation on adult domestic animals like cats by barred owls is highly unlikely and extremely rare. An adult house cat typically weighs between 6 and 10 pounds, which often exceeds the carrying capacity of a barred owl. While a photographic record exists of a barred owl catching a house cat, such instances are isolated and notable because they are so uncommon.
Barred owls are primarily nocturnal hunters, though they may also hunt during twilight or on overcast days. Their hunting strategy involves swooping from a perch or flying low to capture prey with sharp talons. Very small kittens or exceptionally vulnerable small pets could theoretically be at risk due to their minimal size; however, reported instances of this are virtually unheard of. Keeping small pets indoors, especially at night, is recommended as a safety measure against various wildlife predators.