Staff at Flintshire Wildlife and Pet Rescue Centre say fans of the J K Rowling's boy wizard have bought owls as pets, only to find they can't cope with them.

Co-owner of the rescue centre, Joy Pierce Jones, said: "Harry Potter was definitely one of our biggest downfalls.

"People have been phoning up rescue centres, wanting to buy an owl for their children.

"Owls just aren't suitable as pets and while they are generally friendly, they do have their off days and can bite.

"They can quite easily take your eye out or ear off."

There are currently about 10 barn and tawny owls at the Holywell-based rescue centre, some of which have been sent in by families who can't look after them.

Owls feature prominently in the hit Harry Potter series, both in the films and the original books by JK Rowling.

In the series, Harry has a magical pet snowy owl called Hedwig, which spends lots of time in a bird cage in his room.

But animal campaigners are warning youngsters they don't make good pets.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says owls can live to an old age, and need room to take flight and hunt.

They also require constant attention and are generally nervous, shy creatures.

In 2002 a dying owl was rescued by the Capricorn Animal Sanctuary in Penyffordd after a boy tried keeping it as a pet and fed it junk food.

Joy added: "We would urge people to think twice before buying owls, or any birds of prey, as pets.

"They are cute when young but they can be very different and, besides, it's not fair on the birds."