While it may sound like a hoot, many trail users in Greater Victoria are not having a good time and have become wary of owl sightings.

Prompted by several calls over aggressive owls, the Town of Sidney suggests walkers in Reay Creek Park wear a hat and keep small dogs close 鈥� and leashed.

鈥淧lease use caution when walking the trails, especially in the early morning and at dusk,鈥� reads a warning from the town, issued Oct. 12.

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While the town didn鈥檛 specify the species of owl, the barred owl has dominated the region in recent generations. The first recorded on the Island dates back to 1969.

Barred owls are considered partially responsible for the decline of a species most commonly seen here before that 鈥� the western screech owl.

Two other common sightings are the great horned owl 鈥� the largest in the region 鈥� and the northern pygmy which is the size of a sparrow and comes in as the smallest.

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