Snowy owls in Wisconsin are not a new phenomenon, but one still rare enough to get everyone in Milwaukee County and beyond buzzing. This year, the a single Arctic snowy owl traveled all the way down from the Arctic tundra to make an appearance in Oak Creek, WI. With the cold snap that’s been hitting the state, the Arctic snowy owl might be forgiven for thinking it’s back in its native homeland.
While many have expressed concern for the owl’s well-being, a spokesperson from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) explained the owl appears completely healthy. “The owl is fully flighted, and photos indicate that it is feeding and behaving normally,” the spokesperson says.
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During an average winter, some owls will migrate south leading to small numbers of snowy owls reaching Wisconsin every year. Every few years though, these numbers swell, leading to an event known as an “irruption,” where an unprecedented number of snowy owls show up in the state.
Currently, this year’s sightings for the snowy owl are a little low, with around 60 sightings compared to last year’s 84 sightings for the same time. The total is relative to a non-irruption year.
The highest irruption year in recent years was in the winter of 2017-18 with 224 snowy owl spottings.
The owl has also been spotted in Lake Vista Park and elsewhere around Milwaukee County in recent weeks. In order to protect the animal’s safety, the DNR spokesperson stresses that the public should give the owl plenty of space and not disturb or try to approach it.
For more information about snowy owls, contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or your local birdwatching group.
