Why are the so Many Dead Owls on the Side of the Road?

March 16, 2018

Question: “Why are there so many Barn Owls dead along the highways as I travel work in the oil fields, Dr. Dirt?”

Aaron
Lea County, NM

Answer:  Aaron, thanks for the question and for watching the Dr. Dirt videos created at the Western Heritage Museum for public education. Your question is not a ‘stumper’, as I see numerous Barn Owls killed along the roadways too.

Most of these owls are killed on their hunting forays. Roads and highways have been constructed with bar-ditches that are usually filled with native vegetation. Then the bar-ditch abuts rangeland interfaces outside of the cities and towns. What has been created is an ideal environment for several species of mice, rats and young gophers that heavily feed on the wild grasses and weeds which the owls prey on.

Barn Owls are keen hunters of the night with their vision and off-set ears to pin point sound of a mouse rustling or squeaking in these right-of-way’s. These areas are attractive hunt zones for the Barn Owls. When Barn Owls are hunting they fly about 2 – 4 feet above the ground. This make them an easy target with any fast-moving vehicle traveling down a roadway at night.

Another source that is killing Barn Owls that is on the rise is the improper use of rat and mice poisons. These small mammals ingest the poisons and concentrations build up in the rat or mouse. The Barn Owls swoops down onto its prey, which is fully laced with a poison. Once the owls begin to digest their meals they are poisoned by their food source…ultimately misapplication by human hands. Now, I will caution the reader, this can affect your cat(s) or dog(s) as they will eat these same animals in an outdoor setting. Many Bird Refuge Biologist and Veterinarians are seeing this problem more often and autopsied birds reveal the evidence.

Dr. Dirt