Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

[Expidia]

Overtons has this scary looking plastic Owl for $25. Does anyone know if it would be worth picking one up in order to keep the critters out now that my boat is under cover on the side of the garage for the winter

My cover at the rear does not fit all that tight due to the motors cables and the height of high I have the cover to keep the rain and snow from accumulating. I've read that no matter how tight you get the cover they can find a way inside.

I thought maybe the Owl might change their attitude from nesting in the boat.

I figure Squirrels can't be all that fond of seeing an Owl sitting in the middle of the deck. I hate the smell of moth balls, so I won't go the route of spreading them around the deck.

 

[rocky100]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

There`s an owl swinging back and forth on the boat next to my slip---doesn`t seem to phase the local cranes at all.
I show up to take my boat out, and see several birds sitting on my neighbor`s boat all the time.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

use downy sheets instead of moth balls.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

Those owl decoys work great for a few days until the critters get used to it being there and no longer is effective, if you move it and reposition it occasionally it helps. They do work though.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

There`s an owl swinging back and forth on the boat next to my slip---doesn`t seem to phase the local cranes at all.
I show up to take my boat out, and see several birds sitting on my neighbor`s boat all the time.

Ya but do they have the dreaded rotating head Owl? That one won't do me any good as it would inside the boat anyway.

I always laugh when I see a bird sitting next to the Owl on someone's bow when I cruise by marina's.

It's not the birds I'm trying to shoo away, it's the Squirrels making a nest in the boat over the winter.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

use downy sheets instead of moth balls.

Don't the Downy sheets wear off quickly? I like the smell of that stuff. I take it Squirrels don't???

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

I just got a good laugh this weekend at my grandmother's watching a squirrel sit on the ground directly next to this huge fake owl she has. Definitely not phased.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Scary Great Horned Owl for critters?

the principle behind the owl is the same as a scarecrow in order to make them work you have to move them around otherwise critters will catch on.

the other option ... tie a real owl to your boat.