Plea to Harry Potter fans over Christmas owls

Wildlife experts are worried that Potter fans might be begging their parents for owls this Christmas after watching The Chamber of Secrets.

In the film, Hedwig, a snowy owl, is Harry's affectionate and loyal pet, but in real life the behaviour of owls is very different, says Heather Holmes from the RSPCA.

She said: "We are worried that there's been a surge in interest from people wanting to buy owls as pets and our advice to them is don't do it.

"If you want to see owls, go to reputable places such as nature reserves to see them.

"Owls just don't make good pets. They can be dangerous and are not at all cuddly - stroking their feathers reduces their waterproofing which isn't good news for the bird."

And she added: "There is always the danger a film or television feature could trigger an impulse response from people wanting to own a particular animal or bird.

"The Mutant Ninja Turtle film is a past example, abandoned terrapins are still being discovered in waterways throughout the country and sanctuaries are full of them.

"However, the controls governing the sale of owls are tighter and more restrictive than they were at that time for terrapins."

The RSPB says although it's illegal to take owls from the wild, it is legal to buy them from properly licensed breeders.

He said: "You won't find owls in your average pet shop but you can buy them from breeders who have a special license from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and even then they must come with documents that prove they were bred in captivity and that their parents were legally held in captivity at that time.

"Owls in real life are nothing like the ones in Harry Potter - you wouldn't really want them in the house and they like to eat mice and day-old chicks - not pleasant for most people really!"

The Pondersosa Rural Therapeutic Centre in Liversedge has four owls - one is a Snowy Owl called Princess who joined the centre two months ago after she'd been kept as a pet.

Ponderosa farm manager Maureen Cook, pictured with a tawney owl called Gizzy, said: "Princess is a perfect example of a pet owl - she's been spoiled rotten and as a result won't do anything for herself. I'm going to have to call a falconer in to train her in the ways of the wild again.

"The RSPCA and the RSPB are 100 per cent correct - owls are not something children should have as pets. They look good in the film but they've been specially-trained to do what they do."

Barry Naylor who sells exotic pets at his Wild Thing shop in Shipley said crocodiles and snakes are more in his line but he has sold owls before.

He said: "Owls aren't something we deal in often but we can get in touch with licensed breeders for people if they are serious buyers.

"Owls are birds of prey and need looking after in a way that suits their habits. They'd need an aviary bigger than most peoples' gardens at least 20ft long to give them enough room for flight and a plentiful supply of food - dead and alive!"

Howard Toll, who runs a sanctuary for birds of prey in Wilsden, has been visiting schools across the district to explain the dangers of having owls as pets.

He said: "Sadly the Harry Potter films seem to have started a craze among children who want owls for Christmas.

"It is important people remember they are wild animals; you cannot house train them, they make a horrible smell and some breeds can attack.

"They need a huge cage just to be able to spread their wings. It is cruel to keep them as pets and they should be in the wild."

He added that many owls become domesticated after being taken on as pets and abandoned. They then need to be looked after by sanctuaries as they could no longer survive in the wild.

A safer bet on how not to disappoint children who want their own Hedwig is to get them a Headwig hat.

Toymakers Imaginarium.com say this fur and velvet hat that costs around £13 looks just like the real thing and it doubles as a puppet - the only hitch is that it's got to be shipped all the way from America.