Birdwatchers on Assateague Island sometimes spot the great horned owl in the loblolly pine forest. Female owls weigh 3 to 5.5 lbs which is larger than the males. The males are usually 2 to 3.5 lbs. The owl's wing span can reach 80 inches in length. They frequently defend their territory in order to keep competitors away from their food supply. They feed mostly at night on birds (including ducks), fish, small mammals, and reptiles. An owl's prey is no match for the owl's powerful talons (claws).

Visitors hiking through the marsh may sometimes find a pile of duck feathers, which may be evidence of an owl's overnight dinner. The great horned owl gets it's name from the high ear tufts on the tips of the ears that appear to be horns.