This article is part of the Wild New Jersey Nature Column! Are there Snowy Owls in New Jersey? Why are they so rare? Read on to find out!

Snowy Owls are native to the Canadian arctic tundra. During the winter, some Snowy Owls fly south of the Canadian border for better hunting when food is tougher to find in the tundra. This usually happens in 8 year cycles, when the lemming population hits its lowest points. Lemmings are a type of rodent that these owls commonly prey on in the tundra. 

Snowy Owls have been seen as far south as Oklahoma, however their sightings increase in rarity the further south of the Canadian border you go. In New Jersey, Snowy Owls are uncommon, but can be seen in the winter in places like the Jersey Shore. The owls prefer open space to hunt small rodents, similar to their normal tundra home. Snowy Owls usually hunt during the day, eating small rodents, fish, or birds. 

Snowy Owls can be identified by their large size, white feathers, and large yellow eyes. Females are larger than males, and females have more black or brown spots then males, who are almost completely white. They nest in the tundra in the summertime, raising a clutch of 3-11 eggs at a time. 

Climate Change poses a threat to Snowy Owls as the Canadian tundra is melting, turning into wetlands. They are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, the list of all endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species in the world.  If you see a Snowy Owl in the wild, admire it from a distance to not stress the owl out. 

Sources: 

Whyy: https://whyy.org/articles/majestic-snowy-owls-return-to-the-jersey-shore/

Audubon: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/snowy-owl

https://okc-audubon.org/snowy-owl/

The Narwal: https://thenarwhal.ca/permafrost-canada-scientists-climate-change/#:~:text=%E2%80%9COur%20winters%20are%20getting%20shorter,by%20wetlands%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.

IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=snowy%20owl&searchType=species