Oregon鈥檚 Hat-Snatching Owl Gains Fame

The defensive Barred Owl has a national bad rap, personalized warning signs, accessories, and now, a nickname.

Earlier this month we on the dive-bombing Barred Owl in Salem, Oregon鈥攁n apparent lone assailant who attacked four joggers in the state capitol鈥檚 Bush鈥檚 Pasture Park this winter, likely defending its nest.

While stealing hats and clipping jogger鈥檚 heads, the owl has also attained national fame. In a Feb. 5 highlighting other in Oregon (whose state motto happens to be: Alis volat propriis or, 鈥渋t flies with its own wings鈥) MSNBC鈥檚 Rachel Maddow relayed the state鈥檚 most riveting news: There鈥檚 a Barred Owl 鈥渓ooming over the state of Oregon right now鈥 silently and occasionally swooping down.鈥

After delivering the owl news directly from The Statesman Journal, Salem鈥檚 local paper, Maddow fretted over the vulnerable dusk-to-dawn jogging community. She lamented that existing signs that warn joggers of owl attackers are slightly lacking. So the television host devised her own yellow caution signs to be 鈥渁 little more visually gripping,鈥 she says.

After the went up on the show鈥檚 website, much to Maddow鈥檚 delight, Salem secured rights to reproduce the sign and as of last week, posted 20 of them throughout the park.

It made some waves on social media, too鈥爆料公社 magazine鈥檚 own field editor Kenn Kaufman made a personal design edit:

 

The Statesman Journal  that their now-notorious Barred Owl deserved a proper name and to pick one, held an online poll that ended on February 11. Coming in with 238 votes, the raptor aggressor was dubbed 鈥,鈥 with 鈥淥wlgetcha鈥 coming in second, and 鈥淩achel Madowl鈥 a close third.

Though the Owlcapone won鈥檛 be sharing Maddow鈥檚 name, she seems satisfied with Salem鈥檚 decision to employ her warning sign scheme. (Maddow鈥檚 鈥渁ngry owl鈥 design is now on a t-shirt and, there's also an owl-themed helmet.) 

This hilarious turn of events may not be the best investment for the city of Salem: As previously reported, the Barred Owl is likely acting out because it is the species鈥 nesting season. The defensive behavior should calm in a couple of weeks.

There's always next year's nesting season, though.