Owls in Wyoming: where to see them and how to identify them
Wyoming hosts several owl species, including Great Horned, Barn, and Burrowing Owls. Your best odds are in the Bighorn Basin, Yellowstone area, and grasslands near Wheatland. Focus on dawn and dusk and listen for calls. Start with open country for short-eared owls or river bottoms for great horned.
Wyoming hosts several owl species, including Great Horned, Barn, and Burrowing Owls. Your best odds are in the Bighorn Basin, Yellowstone area, and grasslands near Wheatland. Focus on dawn and dusk and listen for calls. Start with open country for short-eared owls or river bottoms for great horned.
Where in Wyoming are owls most likely to be seen?
Wyoming's diverse landscapes host several owl species. Great Horned Owls favor river bottoms and wooded areas. Short-eared Owls hunt over grasslands and sagebrush. Burrowing Owls use prairie dog towns in the eastern plains. Check the Bighorn Basin for long-eared owls. Yellowstone's Lamar Valley has great gray owls. For more on owl habitats, see our /animals/owl guide.
See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step.
In Wyoming, owls sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where in the state sightings are most likely. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
What is the best season or time of day to see owls in Wyoming?
Owls are most active at dawn and dusk. Winter is excellent for great horned and snowy owls (irrupt years). Spring is nesting season with more vocal activity. Summer evenings are good for listening. In winter, snowy owls sometimes appear in open fields north of Cheyenne.
See ourOwls guidefor the next step.
Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around best season or time of day, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in Wyoming. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
How can you identify common Wyoming owls?
Great Horned Owls are large with ear tufts and yellow eyes. Great Gray Owls are larger with a rounded head and yellow eyes, no ear tufts. Short-eared Owls are medium, buffy, with black wrist patches, fly low over fields. Barn Owls have a white heart-shaped face. Burrowing Owls are small, long-legged, found on ground near burrows. Compare size and habitat.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
What are the best specific locations for owl watching in Wyoming?
For great horned, try the riparian areas along the North Platte River near Casper. For short-eared, the grasslands around Laramie are reliable. Burrowing owls are common near Wheatland and Torrington. In Yellowstone, look for great gray owls in meadows near Mammoth. Check our /wildlife/wyoming page for more locations.
What equipment helps with spotting owls?
A good pair of binoculars 8x42 or a scope helps. A flashlight with red filter to scan trees. Recording calls on your phone can aid identification. Dress in layers for cold mornings. A field guide or app is useful.
Where can you find owl-themed gifts and decor?
After a day of owl spotting, you might want to bring a piece home. Easy Street Markets offers fun owl items.
### Handcrafted Stoneware Owl Mug | Guatemalan Coffee Cup, 16 oz
This hand molded ceramic mug in a warm cream tone with a bright eyed owl is a great conversation starter.Check Price and Availability
### Cute Animals Sticker Pack | High Quality Water Resistant Stickers
Simple line-art owl sticker with matte vinyl finish, perfect for journals.Check Price and Availability
### Wild Animal Magnet Set 3D Gold Lion Tiger (Owl variant)
Woodland owl magnet with rustic wood grain background, handmade in USA.Check Price and Availability
For more art and prints, browse our /art-prints collection.
See ourBrowse bird wall artfor the next step.
Frequently asked questions about owls in Wyoming
**Are there snowy owls in Wyoming?** Yes, during winter irruptions they can appear in open fields, especially in the northern part of the state.
**Do owls hoot in Wyoming?** Great Horned Owls hoot, but other species like Barn Owls screech. Listen for different calls.
**Where to see burrowing owls in Wyoming?** Look for them on the eastern plains near prairie dog towns around Wheatland and Torrington.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.