Bamberg (WLTX) -- A Bamberg woman contacted News19 with concerns that an owl in her yard was in some sort of danger, but officials at the Department of Natural Resources say she has nothing to worry about.
Lisa Stokes first emailed News19 on Saturday, with pictures of a brown and white owl that she says she first spotted in her yard on Christmas Day. She was concerned that the owl was a pet that had gotten away from its owner.
According to officials at the Department of Natural Resources, Stokes found a barred owl, one of four kinds of owls that are naturally found in South Carolina.
Derrell Shipes, a chief in the Wildlife Management branch of the Department of Natural Resources, identified the owl for News19 as a barred owl. He says other owls commonly found in South Carolina include the barn owl, the screech owl and the great horned owl.
Shipes says the birds, classified as a raptors due to their foot shape and hunting ability, can be found throughout South Carolina, and the barred owl is commonly found in suburban areas, fields and open areas.
The brown and white owl typically feeds on small rodents like field mice or cotton rats.
The chief said that Stokes has nothing to worry about, as barred owls are fearful of humans, and since they are nocturnal, they begin to hunt at dusk.
"They won't bother children," Shipes says, "And they are fearful of humans." Shipes did warn that, like most wild animals, the owl may defend itself if it is cornered.
He said the owls would not bother pets or poultry, and would typically eat animals that humans regard as pests.
"They are not easty to catch," Shipes said, "And if there is one owl in the area, that usually means there are others, and they are probably feeding on rats and mice."
Shipes said DNR would only remove animals from areas, if the animal is a danger to itself or humans.
"Barred owls and screech owls are very often hit by cars," Shipes says, "They will make their swoop, or approach, across a roadway and are sometimes hit by cars."
Shipes said the screech owl, which is about four to five inches in height, can be found in rural and suburban areas, and they feed on small rodents. The barn owl is seldom seen, and it is said to live inside of abandoned buildings. It can be identified by its round white face.
Shipes says of the barn owl, "It's typically found around the coast than inland. It's a very unique animal."
The wildlife expert says the only owl that farmers may have to worry about is the great horned owl, because they are known to feast on poultry.
Shipes wanted to remind the people of South Carolina that owls, like all raptors, in the Palmetto State are protected by state and federal law.
1/19/2009 12:51:34 PM
