About Fake Owls

Significance

• To understand the ubiquitous appearance of fake owls, it's necessary to know something about the real thing. Owls are one of nature's most effective and stealthier predators. In their varied habitats, owls will swoop and kill mice, voles, snakes and fish, quietly and quickly. Large owls have been known to attack mammals such as rabbits and even foxes. And most important, as fearless and ruthless hunters, owls will prey upon other birds, from the smallest sparrow to full-grown ducks and game birds.

Function

• Because real owls are such fierce predators, many people use fake owls to try to ward off birds, particularly pigeons. Homeowners place the fake owls on roofs or window ledges, hoping to scare away pigeons from their property. Building managers affix several fake owls along the periphery of building ledges to deter roosting pigeons. Fake owls have also been used in marinas to keep seagulls at bay. And because owls hunt small rodents, some people use the fake owls to keep squirrels and even skunks away. Fake owls can be used as a natural deterrent in all kinds of settings--parks, open fields, golf courses, rooftops and bridges.

Types

• Fake owls come in different sizes, with varying costs. Smaller, stationary plastic owls are inexpensive, while some of the large owls, with moving parts, can be more costly. Still, a fake owl--built to assume a predatory, defensive posture, with wings outstretched and lowered head--can be bought pretty cheaply. Some electronic owls, with moving heads that hoot, are very inexpensive.

Misconceptions

• Placing a stationary fake owl on your property in hopes of ending a pigeon or rodent problem has not proven to be effective. There are many instances, in fact, in which pigeons have settled within feet of the fake owl. Most bird experts believe that it does not take long for the pests and birds to determine that a fake owl is not a threat. However, some people have found success by using fake owls with moving parts, or by manually moving the fake owls from one spot to another. But moving a fake owl constantly around a rooftop can be problematic.

Solution

• Fake owls are used as a natural deterrent to a bird or pest problem. If pigeons, rodents or other pests--which are not protected species--continue to be a serious problem, it's best to contact a professional exterminator for a permanent solution.