All owl species in the United States are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which means you cannot trap, shoot, poison, or relocate them without a federal permit. Getting rid of owls legally comes down to making your property less attractive to them and protecting whatever they’re threatening, whether that’s backyard chickens, small pets, or your sleep. The good news is that a few targeted changes to your yard can push owls to hunt and roost elsewhere.
Why Owls Are Federally Protected
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 prohibits the take, possession, transportation, or sale of any migratory bird, including all owls, their nests, and their eggs. Violating this law carries serious fines. You cannot legally harm an owl, destroy an active nest, or capture one for relocation without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This applies even if an owl is killing your chickens or roosting directly above your porch.
In extreme cases where owls are causing documented damage to livestock or property, a federal depredation permit can authorize lethal take. Getting one requires contacting USDA Wildlife Services first for a professional evaluation. A biologist must assess the situation and document that nonlethal methods have been tried before recommending further action. Only then can you apply to your regional Fish and Wildlife Service office. For most homeowners, this process is rarely necessary because habitat changes and physical barriers solve the problem.
Remove What Attracts Owls to Your Yard
Owls don’t move into a yard randomly. They come because it offers good hunting, good perching, or both. The most effective long-term solution is making your property a less productive hunting ground.
Start with perch sites. Owls hunt from elevated positions, scanning the ground below before swooping down. Removing isolated dead trees, trimming back overhanging branches near areas you want to protect, and taking down unused poles or structures eliminates the launch points owls rely on. Research on predator management suggests clearing perch sites within about 100 yards of vulnerable areas like chicken coops significantly reduces hunting success.
Next, reduce the prey population. Owls follow the food. If your yard has a healthy population of mice, rats, voles, or other rodents, owls will keep coming back. Keep grass mowed short so rodents lose ground cover. Store pet food and birdseed indoors overnight. Clean up fallen fruit. Seal gaps in sheds and garages where mice nest. Compost bins should be enclosed. As rodent numbers drop, owls lose their reason to patrol your property.
Dense, low shrubbery and brush piles also give rodents places to hide and breed. Clearing these out, especially near structures you want to protect, removes habitat for the prey that draws owls in.
Protecting Chickens and Small Pets
If owls are attacking backyard poultry, physical barriers are far more reliable than any scare device. A covered run is the single most effective protection. Orange netting works well because owls and hawks see that color clearly, making the barrier visible to them before they strike. Whatever material you use, make sure it’s taut and secured at every edge. Owls can exploit loose spots or weak seams.
For stronger protection, cover runs with welded wire instead of netting. This also guards against raccoons and other climbing predators.
Housing your flock indoors from dusk to dawn is critical. Great horned owls, barred owls, and barn owls all hunt primarily at night. Train chickens to return to the coop at dusk by feeding or watering them inside at that time. Close and lock all doors once they’re in. A coop with solid walls, a secure roof, and latched openings will stop virtually all owl predation.
Small pets like rabbits, toy dog breeds, and cats face similar risks in owl territory. Keep them indoors after dark, and supervise them outside during dawn and dusk when some owl species are also active.
Why Fake Owl Decoys Don’t Work Long-Term
Plastic owl decoys are one of the most commonly sold “solutions,” but research consistently shows they have limited effectiveness against real owls and other birds. Birds may avoid a new decoy for several hours or days, then recognize it isn’t a real threat and ignore it completely. This process, called habituation, happens faster with stationary decoys that never move or change position.
Decoys that incorporate motion or are paired with startling sounds slow habituation somewhat, but even the most realistic models produce only temporary aversion. A study reviewing owl decoy research found that birds quickly learn a stationary model poses no actual danger, regardless of how lifelike it looks. If you use a decoy, move it to a new location every few days and pair it with other deterrents, but don’t rely on it as your primary strategy.
Sound and Light Deterrents
Bright motion-activated lights can startle owls away from specific areas like chicken coops or patios. Because owls prefer to hunt in low light, a sudden floodlight disrupts their approach. Position lights to cover the areas where owls have been active, particularly along flight paths and near perch sites.
Motion-activated sound devices that emit loud noises or predator calls can also deter owls temporarily. Like decoys, these work best when you change their position and sound patterns regularly so owls don’t grow accustomed to them. Combining light and sound gives better results than either alone.
Wind chimes, reflective tape, and Mylar balloons are sometimes recommended but tend to be ineffective against owls specifically. These work better on smaller, daytime birds. Owls are large, confident predators, and minor visual distractions rarely bother them for long.
When to Call a Professional
If an owl has nested on your property, you cannot legally disturb the nest while it’s active. USDA Wildlife Services (reachable through their state office directory) can assess your situation and advise on timing. Once young owls have fledged and left the nest, you can remove the nest structure or block the cavity to prevent reuse the following season.
For persistent problems involving livestock losses, a Wildlife Services biologist can evaluate whether nonlethal methods are sufficient or whether a depredation permit is warranted. They’ll document what you’ve already tried and recommend next steps. This is the only legal path to more aggressive intervention, and it starts with that initial contact.
Licensed wildlife control operators in your state can also help with exclusion work, like sealing barn openings where owls roost or installing overhead netting systems for larger poultry operations. Look for operators specifically experienced with birds of prey, as the legal requirements differ from standard nuisance wildlife removal.