From Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources
As winter begins to fade away, great horned owls have already been nesting across Wisconsin. These year- round residents are well adapted to the chilly temperatures and are able to give their young, called owlets, a head start!
Great horned owlets are one of the first wildlife species to hatch every year, typically from late February through mid-April. They are blind, immobile and covered in down when they hatch, so they rely on parent birds for care during the first few weeks of life.
At around 6 weeks old, owlets have traded a lot of their fluffy down for adult-like feathers and become more independent, often "branching" out of the nest before they are fully developed. It is common to see them on the ground and they will often lift their wings, hiss and clack their beak to scare off predators. They may not fly away if approached because they are still developing their flying skills but will often climb back up the tree or fly away once alone.
Remember: an owlet's best chance of survival is with their parents! Always contact the DNR or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice before intervening if you think an owlet is too young to be out of the nest.
