This time of year I get a lot of emails and texts from people reporting they hear an owl hooting outside their windows at night. While many enjoy the sound, others complain they can’t sleep.

There are a lot of aspects of nature that I find interesting. However, what I find even more interesting are what people think of nature or, more specifically, the rules people place on nature.

The great horned owl is the most common owl of the Americas, easily recognizable because of the feather tufts on its head. These “plumicorns” resemble horns or, to some, catlike ears.

Most owl species, such as the barn owl (Tyto alba) and the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and rest during the day. This nocturnal lifestyle ...