how to keep owls away from cats

Step 4 Coat bird landing surfaces, such as patio furniture, railings or nearby tree branches, with a layer of bird repellent spray. The strobing light confuses owls and is actually used in products like this (which is also a solution). Since owls will shy away from areas that other birds have already claimed as their territory, you can also put a predatory bird decoy near your home. Great horned owls are the only type of owl that may attack people who wander too close to their nests. https://wdfw.wa.gov/living/owls.html#conflicts, https://www.crittercontrol.com/services/owl, https://sciencing.com/sounds-frighten-birds-7807173.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. When you notice a curious cat coming into your yard, arm yourself with a water-filled spray bottle and surprise him with a squirt of water. Roosters are keen assessors of the true level of danger. Cats, Predators, and Protection: How to Guard Against Coyotes and Birds of Prey. Take a Pass on Perches. PO Box 274, Princeton, MN 55371. Be sure that the trees or other perches in your area are on your property, and not a neighbor’s, before having them removed. Reflective Anti-bird Spirals. Owls, like any predatory birds, also often roost in high trees or on building gutters, so any kind of perch-like structure or pole can be dangerous. It is no secret to birders that cats killing birds is one of the greatest bird conservation threats, and feral cats and strays kill thousands of birds every year. If you see an owl lurking around your property, be as loud as you can to chase it off. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Think of the relief you’d feel if you could guarantee that your cats, dogs, and chickens were safe from owls. References. If your cat currently spends most of his or her time outdoors, bring it in for increasingly longer spells. Keep chickens enclosed at night so they cannot see the light; having lights on at night can disrupt their sleep cycles. Nylon netting (poultry wire can also be used) is both inexpensive and effective; its presence will prevent owls from making any diving attempts. Since owls are territorial, the presence of a decoy will deter other owls from trying to claim the area. Play these noises in areas where you have noticed rat activity. By playing predator noises, you can scare rats away! You can also get rid of owls by shocking them, literally. Safely Deter Owls Use Nite Guard Solar owl deterrent lights to protect your property from unwanted nocturnal visits. Cats are natural born predators. Startling the owls may be the only legal recourse for removing them. What kinds of devices can you use to keep owls away? Mice, rats and other vermin are temptations for cats, so by getting rid of them, you can help stop cats wanting to enter. Wrap the baffle around the trunk 4 to 5 feet from the ground so the cat can't climb or jump past it, and secure the baffle in place with sturdy wire. While pretty rare, larger hawks have been known to attack toy breeds, cats, and other small pets. Install a repellent device. There are four effective methods to keep birds away from your property: using deterrents, spraying chemical repellents, creating physical barriers, and trapping. Another way to keep owls away is by securely covering your chicken run with bird netting (assuming, of course, you have a chicken run — netting won’t make a difference for free-range chickens). © 2020 Nite Guard, LLC. … Owls typically try to avoid human contact and noises. Great horned owls and barn owls are most likely to hunt at night in a quiet, open field area where they can see from atop a high perch. Protect with a Net. Keep young litters inside an enclosed structure at night. The CatBib – stops cats from killing birds The Most Effective Way To Stop Cats From Hunting and Killing all Birds and wildlife! If you are uncomfortable using commercial scent repellents you can try to use natural or homemade repellents. A rooster is also fiercely protective and will fight any owl who gets within range. Once you install a set of Nite Guard Solar lights, you can rest assured that your farm, purple martin nest, chicken coop, fish pond, and other precious property is being effectively protected. Do not use toxins to get rid of owls, or shoot them. Get rid of any trees, poles, or other observatories. Place the spikes on any areas where owls could potentially land. Cats don't especially enjoy the smell of lavender, peppermint or lemon. Careful Camouflage. There are a few things you can do to help pets not get taken from a raptor but none of them are 100%. If an owl comes circling and your chickens have taken cover, the owl will often fly away without investigating further. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. To prevent perching on structures you can’t remove, you can install spikes like those found on power poles. Another option is to remove perching areas altogether by cutting down larger trees. Birds, mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits are all fair game to a cat. In addition to protecting pets from hawks, owls, and other raptors, taking steps to keep a pet safe will help them avoid other hazards.Birds of prey are not the only hunters that will target pets, and protected pets are much safer from coyotes, foxes, bears, and other predators. Another way to work with camouflage is to create plenty of options for easy hiding. This includes electronic devices like a motion-activated sprinkler, predator decoys, and aluminum foil tapes. Avoid going near a great horned owl nest, or take precautions like wearing a helmet or using an umbrella if you must walk near one. Find bird-deterrent lights online or at a home-improvement store in your area. If you get a light-up collar you should try to get a strobe one. Modify Their Habitats. If a curious and hungry owl flies by and tries to perch on a pole, it’ll get an electric shock — which means it’ll fly away and hopefully not return. Try to use various noise methods for the best results. By using our site, you agree to our. White Leghorn chickens, for example, tend to stand out in any environment and make clearer targets for predatory birds like owls. If they are on a neighbor’s property, discuss your concerns regarding owls in the area and find out if removing perching locations is an option. Ideas to keep cats away from your veg garden New Zealanders love cats, but what our beloved pets leave behind in the vegetable patch can be dangerous to our health. In addition to keeping yard clean, you can use a small ultrasonic device that keeps rodents away. Nests of all kinds can be vulnerable to attacks from predators, such as Blue Jays, crows, grackles, and many other species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. If you have an outdoor cat (even if it’s confined to your yard), put Birdsbesafe® cat collars on them. The best action you can take is to remove any possible landing surfaces where owls could land to watch their prey and prepare to strike. You may need to clear prey animals out of the area. Feral cats not only kill birds and oth… Owls may become used to some noises, so always using the same noise can be less effective over time. Stay away from owl nests, and contact local animal control or wildlife authorities if you discover a nest on your property. Many cat experts agree that a gradual approach to indoor life is best. When deciding on the best owl protection for chickens and pets you’ll need to know about local laws and develop owl identification skills. One of cats' natural enemies is water.These animals hate water, so if you want to keep cats away from your garden, a good option is to have a hose or to install an automatic sprinkler in your garden.Water won't harm cats but will scare them off. These spikes can be especially helpful to place near your gutters, as owls will also sometimes use a roof ledge as their place to spy on smaller animals. Last Updated: April 16, 2020 Scented oils and herbs: If you don't feel like planting certain flowers, you can purchase dried lavender and rue to spread around your yard.You can also spread oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, and lavender around your garden. Website Designed by FootSteps Marketing. Deterrents frighten birds away using visual repellents and noisemakers. This article was co-authored by Scott McCombe. Add electric pole shocker devices on top of each pole. … By time spring is sprung, your cat could be a full-on convert to indoor living! Once they’re indoors and more difficult to access, any circling or perched owls may automatically leave your area. Even a short fence can thwart a predator's attack. This can already be a challenge at home, with cats hunting anything that moves, such as feet, curtains or cables. How to Keep Owls Away. The kennel will allow your cat access to its food while keeping birds away from the dishes. Check with local government authorities about pyrotechnic and gun use regulations in your area before using these devices to frighten an owl. Try to bring your animals into their wooden structure each night to prevent them from even being seen by predatory birds. It’s easy to hang, and you’ll be able to find at most hardware and garden supply stores. It is illegal to kill any type of owl in the U.S. Do not attempt to trap an owl without professional animal control or wildlife authority guidance. Rooster at the Ready. You’ll also have a good chance of getting rid of owls if you put an owl or hawk decoy near your coop or yard. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Although owls prefer smaller, easier prey, larger birds such as great horned owls may prey on small cats or dogs. Great horned owl nests are typically only found high in trees of a forest habitat. If possible, install a decorative or wire fence in front of shrubbery or hedges that may conceal predators to prevent them from attacking birds from these vantage points. To learn how to use noise to keep owls away, keep reading! Professional authorities will provide you with guidance on how to handle problems arising from a nearby owl nest. Note: Roosters aren’t allowed in every area (especially in urban zones), so check your local rules before bringing one home! The sudden mist of water startles the cat out of your yard. If there isn’t anything in your yard to attract birds they will be less likely to … We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Also, think about adding a rooster to your flock if you live in an area that allows them. If a rooster notices an owl or other prey, he’ll emit a sharp and shrill warning whistle to tell the chickens to take cover until danger has passed. Owls are known for their intelligence and will get used to these static statues unless you move them around on the regular. Scott McCombe is the CEO of Summit Environmental Solutions (SES), a family-owned local pest solutions, animal control, and home insulation company based in Northern Virginia. Make sure the fake owl or hawk (or even scarecrow) isn’t visible to your chickens, though. Having an enclosure with a roof can help protect the pet from attacks, although you will still have to watch to … Add spikes. A Brown Leghorn chicken, on the other hand, may be less of a beacon for hungry birds. Decoys aren’t 100% foolproof, but they will set up an extra line of defense. If you can synchronise the transition period with the beginning of winter, then all the better – since cats prefer warm, dry places. Cats like to stalk their prey by crouching down low and slowly creeping through cover to … Birds of prey are federally protected in the US, and they therefore cannot be touched or harmed without serious fines and legal repercussions. Or you could move your plastic owl around your house or garden so it looks like it's real. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The CatBib was invented by a bird-feeding, cat-loving gardener in Springfield, Oregon, after collars with bells and other deterrents didn’t work. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 38,424 times. While not the most always the most imminent threat to chickens and household pets, owls are best kept away. If you’re wondering how to scare an owl away, the presence of a loyal rooster with the readiness to crow will do the trick. Cats are also likely to see your rabbit as food. Blood meal fertilizer: Cats dislike the smell of dried blood that is found in this fertilizer.It can keep cats away and make the plants in your garden more green and lush. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. One way to keep your chickens and pets safe is to move them inside at night while owls are actively hunting. Once the owl has seen its reflection in the mirror, it may not return to the area because it thinks it has predatory competition there. Since owls are nocturnal predators, lights and bright flashes at night will deter them from your yard/coop. Try applying some of the following natural repellents around your house to keep cats away from your property. Fortunately, birders have many easy, effective techniques to discourage feral, stray, and lost cats from invading the property they've made friendly for birds. Fortunately, you can keep owls away with certain frightening techniques or by changing the habitat to make hunting more difficult for them. Sometimes simply increasing human activity in an area, like setting up and using a fire pit and chairs in your yard, can deter an owl from trying to hunt near your home. Make sure your chickens get into the coop by dusk and securely close it all night until the daylight has fully onset again. Devices that startle or frighten are always a good option. Founded in 1991, SES has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded "Best of the Best 2017," “Top Rated Professional,” and “Elite Service Award" by HomeAdvisor. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Place a net over the crib to keep cats away. Spray the Cats with a Hose. Another trick using water is to fill bottles of water halfway up. But most likely, the real danger is outdoors. Get crafty by thinking camouflage. Install the light near the area you want the owl to avoid, such as a chicken coop or backyard, according to the product instructions. If you can catch a cat in the act, an effective natural cat repellent is the … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg\/aid9965256-v4-728px-Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"