Hawks and owls

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Secure pet food, bird seed, and food compost to reduce attracting rodents that will then attract hawks and owls.
• Minimize tall perches for hawks and owls by trimming larger horizontal tree limbs around your home. Use spike strips on branches or roof peaks if needed.

Around home

• Seal openings with metal sheeting on your home and other structures that small rodents may use for access. Reducing the presence of prey helps reduce hawk and owl activity near your home.
• Keep garbage in secure receptacles to limit rodents that may attract hawks and owls.
• Clean grills to avoid food scraps that can draw in rodents and songbirds.
• Sturdy fencing with one-half inch or smaller holes can help deter small mammals that hawks and owls may pursue near homes.

Pets and livestock

• Ensure poultry is kept in a secure coop with an enclosed top. Hawks and owls may target unsecured birds during daylight or nighttime hours depending on the species.
• Use protective netting over outdoor pens to minimize the chance of hawk or owls swooping in.
• Avoid allowing small dogs or cats outside unattended in areas where hawks and owls frequently hunt. Dawn and dusk hours are especially important.
• Raptor depredations of poultry and livestock do not qualify for indemnification payment in Michigan.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Removing food attractants and limiting prey like small rodents and songbirds around your property are the most effective ways to reduce conflicts.
• If hawks or owls are attacking songbirds at a bird feeder, discontinue filling seed or remove the feeder for at least two weeks. Ensure spilled seed is cleaned up to reduce small rodents continuing to attract hawks and owls.
• Installing visual deterrents like reflective tape, spinning objects or motion-activated lights may discourage hawks and owls from frequenting certain areas. These deterrents are often temporary and may need to be rotated.
• If a hawk or owl is nesting in your neighborhood and exhibits defensive behavior, consider blocking off the area until the young birds fledge.
• If you found an injured hawk or owl or a young hawk or owl that you believe its mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of hawks or owls other than for permitted research.
• If you find an injured hawk or owl or a fledgling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• Hawks and owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If damage from hawks or owls is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Encourage residents to secure pet food, bird seed, and food compost to reduce attracting rodents that will then attract hawks and owls. Spring and fall are key times for messaging.
• Minimize hawk and owl presence in focal areas by trimming larger horizontal tree limbs and similar structures that serve as perches for hunting. Use spike strips on branches or roof peaks if needed.

Your community

• Educate residents about sealing openings with metal sheeting on their home and other structures that small mammals may use for access. Reducing the presence of prey helps reduce hawk and owl activity near homes.
• Keep garbage in secure receptacles to limit rodents that may attract hawks and owls.
• Encourage residents to clean grills to avoid food scraps that can draw in rodents and songbirds.
• Sturdy fencing with one-half inch or smaller holes can help deter small mammals that hawks and owls may pursue near homes.
• Implement ordinances and enforcement that prohibit feeding hawks, owls, and other wildlife that may cause problems.

Public spaces

• Inspect municipal buildings and other public structures for openings that allow small rodents inside. Reducing prey availability helps reduce hawk and owl activity around structures.
• Post signage discouraging feeding of wildlife to minimize prey buildup in parks and neighborhoods.
• Promptly remove roadkill animals that hawks and owls may feed on and risk being hit by vehicles.
• Trim overhanging limbs near buildings to reduce perching opportunities.

Pets and livestock

• Educate residents about keeping poultry in a secure coop with an enclosed top. Hawks and owls may target unsecured birds during daylight or nighttime hours depending on the species.
• Protective netting should be used over outdoor poultry pens to minimize the chance of hawk or owls swooping in.
• Educate residents about monitoring small dogs or cats when outside in areas where hawks and owls frequently hunt. Dawn and dusk hours are especially important.
• Raptor depredations of poultry and livestock do not qualify for indemnification payment in Michigan.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Removing food attractants and limiting prey like small rodents and songbirds around your community are the most effective ways to reduce conflicts.
• If hawks or owls are attacking songbirds at a bird feeder, discontinue filling seed or remove the feeder for at least two weeks. Ensure spilled seed is cleaned up to reduce small rodents continuing to attract hawks and owls.
• Installing visual deterrents like reflective tape, spinning objects or motion-activated lights may discourage hawks and owls from frequenting certain areas. These deterrents are often temporary and may need to be rotated.
• If a hawk or owl is nesting in a neighborhood and exhibits defensive behavior, consider blocking off the area until the young birds fledge.
• If you found an injured hawk or owl or a young hawk or owl that you believe its mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of hawks or owls other than for permitted research.
• If someone finds an injured hawk or owl or a fledgling that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• Hawks and owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If damage from hawks or owls is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Encourage staff to secure cafeteria waste, bird seed, and similar foods that attract rodents that will then attract hawks and owls. Spring and fall are key times for messaging.
• Minimize hawk and owl presence in focal areas by trimming larger horizontal tree limbs and similar structures that serve as perches for hunting. Use spike strips on branches or roof peaks if needed.

Grounds

• Seal openings with metal sheeting on your home and other structures that small rodents may use for access. Reducing the presence of prey helps reduce hawk and owl activity near your home.
• Keep garbage in secure receptacles to limit rodents that may attract hawks and owls.
• Clean grills to avoid food scraps that can draw in rodents and songbirds.
• Sturdy fencing with one-half inch or smaller holes can help deter small rodents that hawks and owls may pursue near homes.

Pets and livestock

• If your business or school has poultry, ensure they are kept in a secure coop with an enclosed top. Hawks and owls may target unsecured birds during daylight or nighttime hours depending on the species.
• Use protective netting over outdoor pens to minimize the chance of hawk or owls swooping in.
• Avoid allowing cats and small dogs and therapy animals outdoors unattended in areas where hawks and owls frequently hunt. Dawn and dusk hours are especially important.
• Raptor depredations of poultry and livestock do not qualify for indemnification payment in Michigan.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Removing food attractants and limiting prey like small rodents and songbirds on your grounds are the most effective ways to reduce conflicts.
• If hawks or owls are attacking songbirds at a bird feeder, discontinue filling seed or remove the feeder for at least two weeks. Ensure spilled seed is cleaned up to reduce small rodents continuing to attract hawks and owls.
• Installing visual deterrents like reflective tape, spinning objects or motion-activated lights may discourage hawks and owls from frequenting certain areas. These deterrents are often temporary and may need to be rotated.
• If a hawk or owl is nesting on your grounds and exhibits defensive behavior, consider blocking off the area until the young birds fledge.
• If you found an injured hawk or owl or a young hawk or owl that you believe its mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of hawks or owls other than for permitted research.
• If someone finds an injured hawk or owl or a fledgling that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• Hawks and owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If damage from hawks or owls is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Secure grain, livestock food, and other foods that can attract rodents that will then attract hawks and owls.
• Minimize tall perches for hawks and owls by trimming larger horizontal tree limbs around your property. Use spike strips on branches or roof peaks if needed.
• Use solid covering or overhead netting to prevent hawks and owls from accessing outdoor poultry and newborn livestock.

Your farm or orchard

• Seal openings with metal sheeting on outbuildings and other structures that small rodents may use for access. Reducing the presence of prey helps reduce hawk and owl activity near your home.
• Metal sheeting or sturdy fencing with one-half inch or smaller holes can help deter small mammals that hawks and owls may pursue near homes.
• Keep garbage in secure receptacles to limit rodents that may attract hawks and owls.
• Ensure spilled grain is promptly cleaned up to avoid attracting birds and rodents that hawks and owls prey on.
• Conduct rodent control where and when possible to minimize prey for hawks and owls.

Pets and livestock

• Ensure poultry is kept in a secure coop with an enclosed top. Free-range poultry is especially susceptible to hawk and owl predation. Hawks and owls may target unsecured birds during daylight or nighttime hours depending on the species.
• Raptor depredations of poultry and livestock do not qualify for indemnification payment in Michigan.
• Use protective netting over outdoor pens to minimize the chance of hawk or owls swooping in.
• Avoid allowing small dogs or cats outside unattended in areas where hawks and owls frequently hunt. Dawn and dusk hours are especially important.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Removing food attractants and limiting prey like small rodents and songbirds around your property are the most effective ways to reduce conflicts.
• Installing visual deterrents like reflective tape, spinning objects or motion-activated lights may discourage hawks and owls from frequenting certain areas. These deterrents are often temporary and may need to be rotated.
• If hawks or owls are attacking songbirds at a bird feeder, discontinue filling seed or remove the feeder for at least two weeks. Ensure spilled seed is cleaned up to reduce small rodents continuing to attract hawks and owls.
• If a hawk or owl is nesting on your property and exhibits defensive behavior, consider blocking off the area until the young birds fledge.
• If you found an injured hawk or owl or a young hawk or owl that you believe its mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of hawks or owls other than for permitted research.
• If you find an injured hawk or owl or a fledgling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• Hawks and owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If damage from hawks or owls is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.

Airport

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Encourage staff to secure cafeteria waste, bird seed, and similar foods that attract rodents that will then attract hawks and owls. Spring and fall are key times for messaging.
• Minimize hawk and owl presence on airport property by trimming larger horizontal tree limbs and similar structures that serve as perches for hunting. Use spike strips on branches or roof peaks if needed.

Around buildings

• Seal openings with metal sheeting on buildings and other structures that small rodents may use for access. Reducing the presence of prey helps reduce hawk and owl activity on airport property.
• Keep garbage in secure receptacles to limit rodents that may attract hawks and owls.
• Clean grills to avoid food scraps that can attract rodents and songbirds.
• Sturdy fencing with one-half inch or smaller holes can help deter small rodents that hawks and owls may pursue.

Airfields

• Maintain short vegetation and reduce cover that supports rodent populations.
• Remove rock piles, abandoned structures or other shelter features for small rodents and songbirds.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Removing food attractants and limiting prey like small rodents and songbirds on airport property are the most effective ways to reduce problems.
• Installing visual deterrents like reflective tape, spinning objects or motion-activated lights may discourage hawks and owls from frequenting certain areas. These deterrents are often temporary and may need to be rotated.
• Install perch deterrents on buildings or towers where hawks and owls frequently sit.
• If hawks or owls are attacking songbirds at a bird feeder, discontinue filling seed or remove the feeder for at least two weeks. Ensure spilled seed is cleaned up to reduce small rodents continuing to attract hawks and owls.
• If a hawk or owl is nesting on airport property and exhibits defensive behavior, consider blocking off the area until the young birds fledge.
• If you found an injured hawk or owl or a young hawk or owl that you believe its mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of hawks or owls other than for permitted research.
• If you find an injured hawk or owl or a fledgling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• Hawks and owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If damage risk from hawks or owls is significant, contact USDA Wildlife Services (866-487-3297) for guidance on permit requirements.