FASCINATING OR FRIGHTENING?
The Pels Fishing Owl

From the earliest times, owls have featured strongly in myths and legends, mostly in very negative contexts.

Around the world, including Africa, owls are seen as birds of ill omen, frequently associated with death. For example, an owl call foretold the assassination of Julius Caesar and in the Bible, owls are associated with death and decay. Isaiah prophesied the fall of Babylon using the presence of owls to emphasise the desolation of the ruined city.

The Greeks, and in particular the goddess Athene, are responsible for a more positive view of owls. Athene, the warrior goddess, was revered for great wisdom and, as her emblem, owls to this day are attributed with great intelligence - "the wise old owl".

Owls, and owl body parts, were also important in folk medicine and magic, for example: The Barn Owl

  • The heart of an owl hung above one's bed during sleep was suppose to restore memory.
  • Owl eggs were supposedly versatile - a cure for drunkenness (ancient Romans), baldness and, when made into a soup, also a cure for whooping cough
  • Amongst local Africans, there is a belief that owl fat serves as a love potion.

Because of the negative sentiments towards owls, it is not surprising that the relationship between owls and humans has been marked by persecution, ignorance and misunderstanding.

Owls are still persecuted out of fear or ignorance; owl habitats are altered or destroyed and many owls are victims of secondary or accidental poisoning. This poisoning results from two main sources:

  • The accumulation (build-up) of insecticides and other toxic substances over time in the body of the owl. Owls are particularly vulnerable to this type of poisoning as they are at the end of the food chain. At each step in the food chain, these toxins become more concentrated until they reach dangerous levels in the owl, leading to breeding failure and even death. The Grass Owl
  • The other dangerous source is the use of rat poisons to control rodents. Poisoned rats do not die immediately but will often wander around - not avoiding predators and moving so slowly that they can easily be caught by owls. The poison in the rat's body is still active and often ends up killing the owl. With this in mind, it is important to realise that any poison used in the garden can affect beneficial animals, such as owls, that you would like to have in cities and towns.
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