Les espèces en péril aux TNO

Range map information

Snowy Owls live in treeless, open areas. They nest on the ground in Arctic tundra and other wide-open habitats. Some spend the winter in the Arctic sea ice while others remain on the tundra or move to open habitats further south.

The Snowy Owl is a top predator of the Arctic tundra. During the breeding season, their diet is almost entirely lemmings. In the non-breeding season, their diet includes other prey such as waterfowl, ptarmigan, hares, and other small mammals. Snowy Owls make large-scale irregular movements related to food availability, especially lemming population cycles. This means Snowy Owl numbers at a given location can vary a lot from year to year.

Unlike most other owls, Snowy Owls are active during the day and can hunt at all hours during the continuous summer daylight. They are often seen on the ground, perching on a raised hummock or rock with a good view of their surroundings.

There are an estimated 13,000 to 16,000 mature Snowy Owls in Canada, and data suggest the population is declining. Snowy Owl counts on the wintering range showed an estimated population decline of around 40% over the last 24 years. Indigenous knowledge holders from some northern locations (Baffin Island and the Yukon coast) have reported seeing Snowy Owls less frequently than before.

The Snowy Owl’s Arctic tundra habitat is rapidly changing because of climate change. As shrubs expand, wide-open tundra ecosystems are shrinking towards the north. Snowy Owls and the lemming populations they rely on are affected by changes in temperature, rain and snow - for example, by the formation of ice crusts on the snowpack. 

The NWT Wildlife Act protects Snowy Owl nests and eggs from human disturbance. Snowy Owls are not included under the Migratory Birds Convention Act.