Description  The snowy owl is a large white owl about 23 inches (58 cm) in length. It has no ear tufts and the eyes are yellow. The white  plumage is often marked with dark bars. The extent of the black markings is variable, making some individuals significantly  whiter than others.

October  1%  November  14%  December  25%  January  36%  February  18%  March  6%  April  1%  Table 1. Percent of Reported Sightings of Snowy Owls in South Dakota by Month (Total exceeds 100% due to rounding.) Taken from The Birds of South Dakota.

Distribution  The snowy owl is an irregular winter visitor to South Dakota, except in the Black Hills, where it has not occurred. Some  years it is much more common than others. As shown below, this species is most frequently seen in the state during the  months of December and January.

The snowy owl's summer range is northern Canada and Alaska. It is a bird of the open tundra. Snowy owls nest on the
ground and their chief food is lemmings. They hunt mostly during the day, but can also hunt at night. These owls usually
remain in Canada and Alaska during the winter months. When this species is common in South Dakota during the winter,
usually the lemming populations are low in Canada and/or Alaska. The species' preferred winter habitat is around marshes,
lakes and lowlands. The birds are frequently found near wildlife refuges, where they feed on injured waterfowl. In South
Dakota these birds often perch atop utility poles or hay stacks.

Snowy owls nest on low mounds or rocks. The eggs are white and the clutch size is normally 2 or 3 eggs. Males feed the
incubating female. Adults perform distraction display, which means they try to distract or lead potential predators away from
the nest.

Conservation Measures

Owls, and all other birds of prey, are protected by law. It is illegal to harm them or to disturb their nests. It is also against
the law to have in your possession any artifacts from birds of prey, such as feathers, talons or preserved specimens. Injured
hawks and owls should be reported to the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Officials will see that birds that can be saved will be cared for at rehabilitation centers such as the Oahe Wildlife Center in
Pierre or the Reptile Gardens Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Rapid City. The Oahe Wildlife Center is a non-profit
organization that also provides to schools educational programs with living birds of prey and color slides (see below for
details).

Glossary

Lemmings - small Arctic rodents with short tails and fur-covered feet. They exhibit a 3 to 4 year population cycle dependent on availability of forage plants.

SDOU, 1991. The Birds of South Dakota, NSU Press, Aberdeen, SD 57401.
National Geographic Society, 1987. Birds of North America, Mead Paper Co., New York, NY.
Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, 1988. The Birder's Handbook, Simon and Schuster, Inc. NY, NY.

Oahe Wildlife Center, Pierre, SD. This non-profit center is run by Dr. Virginia Trexler-Myren, a veterinarian who provides
wildlife rehabilitation as well as educational programs at schools. These living bird and slide show programs are free
locally, but may cost a small amount away from the Pierre area. For information call 605-224-2984.
Reptile Gardens, P.O. Box 620, Rapid City, SD. This commercial tourist attraction provides group rates for class visits and
educational outreach programs on raptors and reptiles from November 1 through March 1. For information call
605-342-5873.

Written by:
Dr. Robert Buckman, Professor of Biology, Dakota State University, Madison, SD 57042. 1996.

Reviewed by:
Dr. Dan Tallman, Professor of Biology, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD 57401.

Publication of the Snowy Owl fact sheet was funded by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Division of
Wildlife, Pierre, SD.