Click to Enlarge Image
Here is a Short-eared owl taken earlier this year swooping in to catch itself a small rodent here on the BC coast. Recently I’ve heard some concerning stories affecting owls, especially at this time of year, so I thought I would share them here to try and help raise awareness to their plight. One story involved an owl found close to death and taken to a nearby rescue centre. Sadly the owl died and the cause of his death… poison! Not poison directly administered to him, but given third hand via a mouse. This is of course the time of year when mice head for nice warm spots, often in people’s sheds, garages and homes. If you have a mouse problem, wherever possible please do not leave poison for them as this can inadvertently kill owls and other critters that might feed on them, even pet cats.
The second story I heard was something I had never even considered before and this involved an owl killed on a road down in the US. A young lady driving home one evening struck a low flying owl trying to catch a small rodent close to the road. The rodent was feeding on an apple core thrown from a passing vehicle! Most people think of apples and other fruit etc. to be bio degradable so think nothing of ejecting them from their vehicles as they travel along the highway – but many do not think of the consequences of that action, well the owl that young lady hit can certainly testify to the outcome!
More owls can be seen in the Owl Gallery
