From Humane Indiana Wildlife

Yeesh! This great horned owl is exhibiting their best threat display, warning our staff to back off. This behavior can be observed in many different owl species. Some common aspects of defensive posturing across all owls are puffed out feathers, wings that are held up and flared, and an open mouth. Some species will also sway side to side as they do this. The purpose of these behaviors are to make the bird appear larger than it is and showing how much fighting spirit it has! Many predators, even carnivores much larger than the owl itself, will think twice about trying to eat an animal making this kind of display. Risking severe damage from their strong feet, beaks, and talons isn’t always worth it.

From a rehab perspective, it can actually be a good sign when our patients threaten us like this. If they’re engaging their defensive posturing, it means that they see us as a threat. It’s crucial that our patients don’t grow habituated to humans. Being too friendly could cause them to approach humans after release, which often puts them in the path of hazards like cars, domestic pets, various sources of poison, or even people who are willing to shoot a bird of prey to defend pets and livestock. When they see us as a potential threat, it means they’re on track to living a successful life in the wild.

As spring draws nearer, this is also a great time to remember that owls are potentially dangerous wild animals! Female owls are fiercely defensive of their nests and have been documented attacking people who wander too close. If you spot an owl in the wild, don’t approach it - just admire it from a distance! Our staff members put protective gear on before interacting with birds of prey due to how much damage they can cause. This isn’t to say that anyone should be fearful of owls, it’s simply important to respect their power and give them a wide berth