diff --git a/src/app/ItemPageLayout.js b/src/app/ItemPageLayout.js
index e393a89f..38577bbc 100644
--- a/src/app/ItemPageLayout.js
+++ b/src/app/ItemPageLayout.js
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ export function SubtleSkeleton({ isLoaded, ...props }) {
 
 function ItemPageBadges({ item, isEmbedded }) {
   const searchBadgesAreLoaded = item?.name != null && item?.isNc != null;
+  const shouldShowOwls = useShouldShowOwls();
 
   return (
     <ItemBadgeList marginTop="1">
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ function ItemPageBadges({ item, isEmbedded }) {
           Jellyneo
         </LinkBadge>
       </SubtleSkeleton>
-      {item.isNc && (
+      {item.isNc && shouldShowOwls && (
         <SubtleSkeleton
           isLoaded={
             // Distinguish between undefined (still loading) and null (loaded
@@ -404,4 +405,34 @@ function ShortTimestamp({ when }) {
   );
 }
 
+const SHOULD_SHOW_OWLS = false;
+
+/**
+ * useShouldShowOwls will return false until the user types "~owls" on the
+ * page, after which the ~owls badge will appear.
+ *
+ * We also keep the value in a global, so it'll stick if you go search for
+ * another item too!
+ */
+function useShouldShowOwls() {
+  const [mostRecentKeys, setMostRecentKeys] = React.useState([]);
+  const [shouldShowOwls, setShouldShowOwls] = React.useState(SHOULD_SHOW_OWLS);
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const onKeyPress = (e) => {
+      const newMostRecentKeys = [...mostRecentKeys, e.key].slice(-5);
+      if (newMostRecentKeys.join("") === "~owls") {
+        SHOULD_SHOW_OWLS = true;
+        setShouldShowOwls(true);
+      }
+      setMostRecentKeys(newMostRecentKeys);
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener("keypress", onKeyPress);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("keypress", onKeyPress);
+  });
+
+  return shouldShowOwls;
+}
+
 export default ItemPageLayout;