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Species · Ohio · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Great Horned Owl Population Trend in Ohio

All statesBirds of prey

Great Horned Owl in Ohio has surged: up 100% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+100%Since 1968TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
56Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
54YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Great Horned Owl Trends in OhioNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

long arc increasecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

Great Horned Owl has surged in Ohio: up 99% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Great Horned Owl Population Forecast in Ohio

If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Ohio is projected to fall about 61% by 2030 — from 0.15 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.06 (95% range 0.00–0.17). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±55.9%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-61%Change by 2030TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
0.06Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.1795% range95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
±55.9%Backtest errorBacktest errorTypical error when we hold out the most recent years, forecast them, and compare to what actually happened. Lower means a more trustworthy projection.Full methodology →
If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Ohio is projected to fall about 61% by 2030 — from 0.15 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.06 (95% range 0.00–0.17). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±55.9%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662030
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →95% low95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →95% high95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
20260.060.000.17
20270.060.000.17
20280.060.000.17
20290.060.000.17
20300.060.000.17

Great Horned Owl Survey Routes in Ohio

Routes recording Great Horned Owl in Ohio.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →
Napoleon420251981
Dunlap319871983
Xenia319951994
Valley City320072004
N Baltimore219961971
Smithfield220231999
New Somerset219791979
Harveysburg219871966
Hebron219981982
Dell219931993
Ash Ridge219931993
Scioto Furn219971997
Lockport120241970
Kunkle119991997
Bloomville120151996
Kingsway120231966
Graytown119681968
Wayne N.F.120132013
Zaleski S.F.120162016
Pittsfield120221996
Tar Hollow119951992
Bismark119931976
Scioto Trail119951993
Wayland120052005
Garrettsvile119891989

Great Horned Owl Population Trend in Other States

alabamaalaskaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaoklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.