If you are interested in finding out whether owl meat can be eaten by humans or not then you’ve come to the right article.
As, in this article, I’ll be sharing the answer to this question with you, and also after you’ve read the answer to the main question then I’ll cover a few more answers to closely related questions as well to extend your knowledge even more.
I hope you learn a lot from this article!
Can you eat owl meat?
You can eat owl meat like you could eat everything that you want.
However, it is illegal to hunt owls, and eat owl meat in many countries.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as amended in 1972, prohibits the capturing or killing of owls.
The treaty was originally an agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico, but in the 1970s, Japan and Russia also agreed.
Moreover, although it initially only regulated the capturing, killing, and trading of migratory birds, it was expanded in the 1970s to include raptors such as owls.
Within the United Kingdom, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Also, even if it were legal to eat owls, they wouldn’t taste very good.
Owls are birds of prey, and the meat from birds of prey is often unpalatable.
Nevertheless, whenever humans have few food source options than people sometimes end up eating owl meat.
During a food shortage in Laos in 2009, Laotians resorted to eating barn owls, as well as other non-traditional animals.
What does owl meat taste like?
Owls primarily, and often exclusively, eat meat, which results in high concentrations of iron in their blood and muscles.
This imparts a very metallic flavor to their tough, stringy meat.
Almost all people would find this off-putting, and, therefore, people have only eaten owl meat out of desperation.
Does owl meat taste good?
Owl meat does not taste good.
Like other birds of prey, owls are meat eaters with very well-developed muscles.
As a consequence, their meat contains a significant amount of iron-rich hemoglobin, which imparts an acrid and metallic taste.
Moreover, the fat of an owl has a strong gamey flavor, which taints the flavor of their meat.
Most animal meat that humans find palatable is from omnivores or herbivores, particularly grain-fed livestock.
While some people appreciate the gamey flavor of wild animals that are not grain-fed, even they would likely find the acrid taste of owls off-putting.
Why do we not eat owls?
We don’t eat owl meat because it tastes bad, and also because it is illegal to do so.
Within the countries of North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was amended in 1972 to prohibit the capturing and killing of raptors, including owls.
It is even illegal to simply disturb their nests.
Under the terms of the treaty, someone who captures or knowingly kills an owl can receive a steep fine.
In the United Kingdom, owls are similarly protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Even if it were legal to capture and eat owls, their meat tastes awful.
It has an acrid, metallic, and strongly gamey flavor.
Is it legal to eat owl meat?
In most countries, it is illegal to knowingly capture, kill, eat, or trade owls.
In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the amended Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 governs not only migratory birds but also raptors, such as owls.
Violations of the terms of the MBTA result in steep fines.
Within the United Kingdom, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
What happens when you eat an owl?
Eating an owl that has been sufficiently cooked would probably not cause any ill effects, though the acrid taste would probably make many people feel nauseous.
Regardless, there are significant legal consequences for doing so.
In the United States, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 covers raptors, even though they are not migratory birds.
It stipulates that individuals who capture or knowingly kill owls can be fined thousands of dollars.
Similar statutes exist in the United Kingdom and are articulated in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
What are the benefits of eating owl meat?
Owl meat would provide some nutritional benefits, but it is minimal.
During famines such as one in Laos in 2009, people have resorted to eating them.
However, owls are very lean predators and yield very little meat.
In general, all birds of prey are poor food sources.
Can you eat owl meat in the UK?
Owls are protected animals within the United Kingdom under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is illegal to capture and kill them.
Even if it were legal to eat them, it isn’t recommended.
They are valuable birds of prey, which keep rodent populations in check, and their meat does not taste good.
Can you eat owl meat in the US?
You cannot eat owls in the United States.
Doing so is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was amended to cover raptors such as owls since they are vulnerable and highly valuable animals.
The fines for violating the MBTA have varied over the years, but they are consistently many thousands of dollars.
Can you eat owl meat in Australia?
The federal Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 prohibits the importation or exportation of owls and numerous other animals, and the various states have laws prohibiting the capture and killing of wild birds, including owls.
For this reason, you cannot legally obtain owl meat, and eat owl meat.
Do Japanese eat owls?
Japanese people do not eat owls.
The Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law only allow the capturing and hunting of certain specified animals, and owls are not included.
Do Chinese eat owls?
Chinese people do not eat owl meat.
The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife prohibits the killing of wildlife species, including owls.
Which cultures eat owl meat?
Owl meat does not figure into the culinary tradition of any culture.
The meat of owls is unappetizing and only minimally nutritious.
However, in 2009 when Laos was experiencing a profound food shortage, some Laotians resorted to hunting and eating barn owls.
Which countries eat owl meat?
Owl meat is not, as a general rule, eaten in any country.
It is highly acrid and unpalatable, so there is little to no demand for it.
However, when rats decimated the crops of Laotians in 2009, they resorted to hunting and eating owls, as well as other non-traditional animals.
Upon learning about these developments, the United Nations encouraged Laotians to refrain from doing so since owls, themselves, are an important predator that could serve to cull the rat population.
Is owl a delicacy?
Owl meat tastes very bad, so it is not considered a delicacy.
Also, owls are prohibited to be hunted by humans in various countries, and it is also prohibited to eat owl meat in various countries.
Can you eat owl eggs?
Although owl eggs are edible, it is illegal to disturb an owl’s nest, take their eggs, or eat them.
But if you would still decide to eat an owl egg then it is important to remember that the owl egg should be properly cooked as eating raw owl eggs can be detrimental to a human’s health.