Owls are associated with witchcraft where owls were thought to be messengers of witches, & they hooted to warn of an approaching witch.
It is believed Lakshmi descends on earth on Diwali day; and sacrificing her owl will force her to stay in the house, as she won’t have a vehicle to return back.
Owls are even poached for the tantriks or voodoo and black magic practitioners who use various body parts as talismans or medicine