Rarely-Spotted Owl Flies Into Oakton Home

OAKTON, VA — Northern Saw-whet Owls are rarely spotted by people due to their nocturnal tendencies, so it was a rare treat when Animal Protection Police got to see one in Oakton last week.

On Friday, Nov. 17, Animal Protection officers responded to the Oakton area after an owl flew into a home under construction. Two officers safely caught the owl and examined it for injuries. When they determined the owl was uninjured, it was released into the wild.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is considered the smallest species of owls in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The owls are an average 8 inches long and weigh 2.8 ounces, which the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia says is less than the weight of many smartphones. Much about the species remains a mystery due to their nocturnal and secretive ways.

What we do know is these owls migrate throughout Virginia in the fall and stay in the winter. Their habitats are often coniferous forests in North America, and occasionally mixed or deciduous forests. Data on their breeding activity is limited, as more information is sought in a wider geographic area.