More Snowy Owls Spend the Winter in Wisconsin

by Dayanara Flores, age 17

Snowy owls have been seen more in Wisconsin this winter than last, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

As of January, there were 84 snowy owl sightings in Wisconsin during this past winter. the most in several years. In the winter of 2023-24, only 24 snowy owls were seen in our state, the lowest number in the last decade.

But between 2022 and 2023, 36 snowy owls were documented in the state. Surprisingly, 140 were recorded between 2021 and 2022, which is called an irruption, or a big population growth.

Among a snowy owl's features are white and black feathers and big yellow eyes. It is the heaviest owl in North America, with an average weight of 4 pounds. Snowy owls are about 23 inches long and have a wingspan of 52 inches. These are Arctic birds, which means they can be found in northern sections of the U.S. and Canada, as well as Scandinavia and Russia.

A good place to see snowy owls is in the Green Bay or Ashland areas and the best time is in mid-December.

Even though snowy owls spend most of their life on the treeless tundra in the Arctic, they can endure an irruption when they go south for winter. An irruption can occur with other northern birds, including the pine skin, evening grosbeak, hoary redpoll, and many more. One of the largest irruptions in recent history was in the winter of 2017 to 2018. According to the Department of Natural Resources, a total of 280 birds were documented in Wisconsin.

The snowy owl is a remarkable species that few people know about, but it can become interesting when learning more about it. If you see a snowy owl, consider yourself lucky because it is rare.

[Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]