PermaNews Archive: Owls and Snakes and Rats, Oh My!

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Warnings and discussions about owning the animals seen in Harry Potter as pets.

Hedwig making deliveries to North Uist, UK?
A gorgeous snowy owl has been spotted in North Uist. This may not seem exciting, but snowy owls are not spotted very often in the U.K.
August 18, 2003 at 1:52 PM; scotsman.com - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures - Comments (89)

Inundated with owls
Owls became a popular animal to breed when the first Potter movie hit the screen, but now it's becoming a problem trying to find good homes for all of them. Meet Chris Jones, whose job it is to do just that.
July 14, 2003 at 9:42 PM; Express and Star - Comments (48)

Abandoned owls being adopted faster than you can say Hedwig
It seems that people have come forward to adopt several abandoned Barn Owls in need of a home due to their popularity from the Harry Potter movies.
June 17, 2003 at 8:18 AM; The Leaky Cauldron - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures - Comments (13)

'Potter fans long for pet owls'
IC Liverpool has a short article about what most children want nowadays! Thanks to Julez for sending it in.
June 16, 2003 at 10:31 AM; MuggleNet - Comments (8)

Barn owls rescued, thanks to Harry
The Express Star reports that "A bird rescue centre has been flooded with neglected barn owls in the wake of the Harry Potter films which star a magical white owl called Hedwig."
May 30, 2003 at 11:09 AM; The Leaky Cauldron - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures - Comments (8)

The dead facts
Quarantine officials are concerned that the bulk importation of frozen house mice and other animals as food for pet snakes and owls may spread infectious diseases, it was learned Monday. "Many people copy Harry Potter," said an official at Tsukiyono Farm in Tsukiyono, Gunma Prefecture, which raises house mice in a sterilized facility. "We have an increasing number of customers who keep owls. Demand for mice as their food is rising," he added. Read more here.
April 8, 2003 at 2:11 PM; Godric's Hollow - Comments (8)

Potter and pals cast spell on Lilly
To the delight of dozens of city children, Lilly Library staged a Harry Potter party Wednesday, a few months before Pottermania engulfs the world again with publication of the fifth book in the popular series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Pint-sized wizards and witches in sparkling robes conducted a scavenger hunt in the library stacks for a copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's autobiography, "Magical Me," had their fortunes told by Professor Trelawny, and got to hold and pet real, live[...]
February 27, 2003 at 6:01 PM; Daily Hampshire Gazette - Browse 4 Gilderoy Lockhart pictures

Owl Exposition in Lilly
From Gazettenet.com: NORTHAMPTON - To the delight of dozens of city children, Lilly Library staged a Harry Potter party Wednesday, a few months before Pottermania engulfs the world again with publication of the fifth book in the popular series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." For one night only, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry relocated from England to Meadow Street in Florence. Pint-sized wizards and witches in sparkling robes conducted a scavenger hunt in the library[...]
February 27, 2003 at 2:03 PM; iharrypotter.net - Browse 5 Hogwarts pictures - Comments (8)

Hedwig

Potter author backs campaign against owl pets
JK Rowling has joined a campaign to crack down on the irresponsible ownership of owls, which is being unwittingly encouraged by the hit films based on her books. The campaign is run by Neil and Juliana Fowler, who run the Scotton Owl and Raptor Rehabilitation (Soarr) sanctuary from the garden of their home in Scotton Village, near Richmond, North Yorkshire. JK Rowling's stories feature Hedwig, a snowy owl, and the couple say the films have encouraged parents to try to obtain the birds for their[...]
February 24, 2003 at 12:01 PM; This is The Northeast - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures

Potter Sparks Pet Owl Demand
Harry Potter merchandise may be flying off the shelves, but an animal charity is warning parents not to consider buying the ultimate junior wizard accessory - a pet owl. Since the release of the blockbuster film, the RSPCA has received dozens of inquiries to call centres and animal sanctuaries from parents looking for owls. But the charity and owl experts say the birds, with six-foot wingspans and sharp beaks and talons, do not make ideal pets. Go to the BBC for more info
January 19, 2003 at 10:44 AM; Muggle Pride Zone - Comments (2)

Hedwig

Potter-mania alert over exotic pets
The continuing Harry Potter mania has seen owls, snakes and spiders literally 'creep' up the list of top present requests. "We have had numerous calls from people wanting to know where they can buy a snowy owl like Hedwig from Harry Potter or a snake or spider like those in the movie," said Mike Gibb of northern Ireland's Wildlife Rescue.
December 15, 2002 at 12:31 PM; Belfast Telegraph - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures

An Aragog of Their Very Own
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Northern Ireland's only volunteer wildlife ambulance and advice service has been inundated with calls from parents seeking information about where to purchase owls, snakes and spiders as Christmas presents.
December 15, 2002 at 1:01 AM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (2)

Snow Owls Selling Big This Christmas
Some kids want toys, others want clothes. And then, the others want owls. As Belfast Telegraph says: NORTHERN Ireland's only volunteer wildlife ambulance and advice service has been inundated with calls from parents seeking information about where to purchase owls, snakes and spiders as Christmas presents. And it's all due to children's mania with Harry Potter. Mike Gibb of Wildlife Rescue said: "Don't buy wee Jimmy a 10-foot boa constrictor for Christmas without proper consideration first!" The[...]
December 14, 2002 at 10:45 AM; iharrypotter.net - Comments (2)

Hedwig

J.K. Rowling Chose Hedwig For A Reason
Paul G. writes: National Geographic has a story on Snowy Owls in the December issue (with some really cool pictures). http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0212/feature6 They mention HP at the end of the article in the magazine (not online): "Harry Potter novelist J.K. Rowling cast a snowy owl as her orphaned hero's courier and companion. That seems perfectly fitting: Swift, strong, beautiful, and dauntless in caring for their young, these winged icons of the Arctic are magically fascinating -[...]
December 8, 2002 at 10:09 AM; iharrypotter.net - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures - Comments (2)

Snake 'Gifts' Denounced
BBC News reports: "A reptile enthusiast has urged Harry Potter fans not to ask for snakes for Christmas, after the creatures took a lead role in the junior wizard's latest movie. Rhys Jones has organised a special evening at Cardiff University on Thursday in which experts will be showing off venomous - but not deadly - snakes to the public. He hopes to correct the public images of snakes and encourage people to handle them correctly. The exhibition evening on Thursday will introduce the[...]
December 5, 2002 at 6:31 PM; UKHarryPotter - Comments (6)

Experts warn against keeping snakes as pets
According to the experts, keeping a poisonous snake as a pet is a bad idea for HP fans. I have always wanted a pet basilisk... Thanks to Hernansur for the link.
December 5, 2002 at 1:01 PM; MuggleNet - Comments (6)

Thinking of the Perfect Gift?
The BBC news reports that a reptile enthusiast has urged Harry Potter fans not to ask for snakes for Christmas ... "People will be interested in Harry Potter because it is a huge phenomenon," [Rhys Jones] said. "But we don't want people seeing snakes as gifts."
December 5, 2002 at 10:00 AM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (3)

Hedwig

Owls find fame in Harry Potter while losing habitat in real life
One of the more beloved characters in the Harry Potter novels and movies isn't actually a person -- it's Hedwig, the boy wizard's messenger owl. In the real world, wildlife groups hope the movies will spur interest in conserving owl habitat. But the groups also fear that fascination could prompt people to try to keep owls as pets, a practice still legal in the United Kingdom. It's illegal in the United States, which is just as well, according to The Nature Conservancy. Owls don't really make[...]
December 3, 2002 at 7:01 AM; Daytona Beach News Journal - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures

The owls
According to the experts, owning an owl for a pet is not a good idea. Hmm...
November 30, 2002 at 1:31 PM; MuggleNet - Comments (2)

Hedwig

Harry Potter Owls
Note: This newspost is mostly about owls, but does mention a bit of Harry Potter. In the new movie, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" the young wizard keeps a snowy owl named Hedwig in a birdcage in his room.[/i] In the United States owning an owl is illegial. However, it is legal in Britain. [i]"In the movie, the owls deliver mail to the children at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft and they're good friends and appear tame, but in reality they are wild animals that must fly[...]
November 30, 2002 at 11:22 AM; UKHarryPotter - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures - Comments (1)

Animal Tales: Harry Potter owls
November 29, 2002 at 2:31 PM; UPI

Experts Warn Against Keeping Owls as Pets
Karen Foerstel, spokeswoman for The Nature Conservancy in Washington [US], states, "With the exposure that the (Harry Potter) movie is getting, we're concerned that ... some people may think owning an owl is a good idea -- it's not ..."
November 29, 2002 at 1:52 PM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (1)

Owning Owls Not A Good Idea?
UPI has this: "With the exposure that the (Harry Potter) movie is getting, we're concerned that ... some people may think owning an owl is a good idea -- it's not, in fact, it's illegal in the United States, but not in Britain," Karen Foerstel, spokeswoman for The Nature Conservancy in Washington, told United Press International's Animal Tales. More at the link.
November 29, 2002 at 7:19 AM; iharrypotter.net - Comments (1)

Hedwig

A Yell Out for the Owls!
From Bradford & District: Harry Potter fans are being warned that life's no hoot for owls if they're kept as pets. 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[...]
November 28, 2002 at 10:55 PM; UKHarryPotter - Browse 4 Hedwig pictures - Comments (1)

Plea to Harry Potter fans over Christmas owls
November 28, 2002 at 6:01 PM; This is Bradford

Movie hoot for Potter owl trainer
Yahoo News reports that for animal trainer Gary Gero, making the Harry Potter films has been the pinnacle of his 40 years in the movie business. That is quite some accolade from a veteran specialist who worked as a teenager on the Alfred Hitchcock classic "The Birds," tamed and trained the creatures in "Dr Dolittle" and taught 101 Dalmatians to scamper across the screen on cue ...
October 25, 2002 at 2:50 PM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (1)

Thieves steal owls
Police put out an alert after the owl, called Scrote, disappeared from his perch at the North Devon Bird of Prey Centre, based at the Milky Way adventure park near Clovelly. Falconer David Rampling was particularly concerned after thieves scaled the fence and took the owl, because Scrote had been hand-reared from a hatchling and would have been unable to survive in a wild environment had he been let loose to fend for himself. He feared the theft could have been sparked by the latest craze for[...]
October 8, 2002 at 6:58 PM; Inside Harry Potter - Comments (2)

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