Police have voiced concern about a rising number of parents buying owls as Christmas presents for Harry Potter-mad children.
They fear the owls will be abandoned and left to die when families discover how difficult it is to look after the birds.
Demand for owls, particularly snowy owls like Harry's pet, Hedwig, has been so great prices have risen to as much as £300.
PC Malcolm Scott, Sussex Police's official bird of prey handler, said: "People need to think of how they would look after an owl.
"This includes daily flights, regular weighing, feeding and cleaning out.
"Remember that breeders feed them with day-old chicks.
"We know what will happen to the owls - when people are fed up with them they will let them out and they will all die.
"We don't want this to happen."
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