Owls are a well loved part of our eco system. Not only do these magnificent birds act as natures pest control, they are one of the most widely recognised groups of animals in the world according to Denver Holt, the founder and lead researcher of the Owl Research Institute based in Charlo, Montana. They have always been a major element in our art, stories, myths and legends because we, as humans, have always loved owls! If you are reading this then it probably means you are a fellow owl lover and therefore are interested in knowing what exactly might threaten these well loved birds.
The biggest threats to our owl populations are:
- Roads
- Rat poison
- Habitat and Nesting Site Loss
- Fences and Outdoor Decor
- Poaching
- Starvation
If you would like to know more about these threats in more detail please read on!
Roads:
Roads are a major threat to the bird population in general but owls are definitely a victim to this cause of death. We cannot stop our owls from venturing near roads but we can do our best to avoid making these roads so dangerous and inviting for them to visit. Many drivers will throw left over food out of their windows while they drive and this attracts all kinds of little creatures to the roadside and this includes owls! Owls can only look forward, as they do not have much peripheral vision at all (without rotating their head, which they will not do while hunting and flying) therefore they will focus in on an apple core on the side of the road and not see the car coming along towards it as it swoops low.
Sadly we cannot control the weather and this is another main cause for owls heading towards our roads. When snow covers the ground our owls can struggle to see their prey when hunting so they head to land that has been cleared – our roads. Since the traffic does a great job at clearing the snow, with help from our gritters, the owls can therefore see when mice and other small prey crosses the road and therefore they can easily hunt these animals sadly resulting in getting hit by oncoming traffic.
The Barn Owl Trust have collated lots of tragic figures regarding this topic on their website relating specifically to the Barn Owl. In summary they found that Britain specific figures show between 3000 – 5000 Barn Owls are killed on our roads yearly – this is where 90% of Barn Owl casualties are found. I personally hate the fact that our man-made ways of life can effect these beautiful creatures so intimately when they should never mix. It is therefore important that we consider wildlife near our major roads.
What We Can Do:
We should aim to plant trees and high hedges lining the sides of the roads but at least 4 metres back. This is so any owls (or birds in general) that want to land in the trees/hedges can safely away from the road. Also by planting high trees and hedges we can encourage the birds to fly higher than the height of the traffic. Barn Owls for example habitually fly low, especially if they are hunting, therefore if the owls decide to hunt near roads, high trees and hedges will force the owls to fly higher to avoid hitting anything. This is the best way to ensure that our owls are less likely to come into contact with fast flowing traffic. Likewise we can stop throwing food out of our car windows encouraging wildlife onto the road!
Rat Poison:
It is a massive shame that rat poison has ended up being such a major killer for our owls because owls are our original pest control! Owls have lived around farms for thousands of years keeping down the numbers of rats. They supported our farmers profitable businesses creating the perfect team! Often farmers would encourage owls, specifically the Barn Owl to nest in their farm buildings for this reason. Now the food industry has outlined strict regulations that must be followed known as the ‘Red Tractor’ scheme which means farmers must regulate rodents and this has pushed many farmers towards incorporating rat poison into their farms instead. Sadly this has had horrendous effects on our wildlife as this rat poison is ingested by many different rodents. Owls will then eat these rodents causing secondary poisoning. It has been estimated that at least 63% of Barn Owls and Tawny Owls, over 70% of spotted Owls and 40% of Barred Owls had traces of poison inside them.
Rat poison is an anti-coagulant which means they prevent blood clotting which will lead to continuous internal bleeding. Poisoned owls will either die slowly (typically around 6-17 days later) or will survive with the poison inside them which may affect them later down the line with survival during hard times and breeding.
What We Can Do:
I understand that Rodents can be a huge problem when they come in plague like numbers but we should do our best to avoid rat poison as much as possible. Humane methods are definitely a preferred alternative for animal lovers like myself such as live trapping devices that can be used to transport the rodents safely elsewhere. I acknowledge though that this isn’t a good enough option for big infestations so how about you set up a bird box and regain the original teamwork of a farmer and his Barn Owl and conquer the problem together – death free!
Habitat Loss:
As time passes there is rising competition for limited resources to meet economic demands and this leads to habitat loss for many animals. The sourcing of wood for paper for example leads to depletion of food supply and nesting spaces. Farmlands are converted to neighbourhoods and rural areas are destroyed. This habitat loss hits our owls hard and in 1990 the Spotted Owl entered the threatened species list under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. By paying attention to satellite data collected we are able to photograph and monitor habitats so that we can see where habitats are mostly affected. Habitat loss links to the issues of rat poison we mentioned above. Since the breakdown of the farmer and Barn Owl relationship occurred due to the mid 20th century changes to farming, owls have significantly lost their old habitats. Improvements in cultivating land by use of large combine harvesters meant that grain is no longer stored on farmland it is sealed into bags and therefore less food for rodents is accessible, meaning less prey for owls. Farmers now also plough the whole of their land efficiently and effectively leaving no grassland verges for Owls to hunt in. Since the combine harvester was introduced, Barn Owl Trust who work to protect the species in the UK found that Barn Owls have declined by around 70% since the beginning of the 20th century due to their habitat disturbances.
What We Can Do:
If you live in a suitable area, please consider a nest box to assist with owl recovery. Nest boxes are a simple yet effective way to aid in the problem of habitat disturbance by providing a suitable spot for the owls to nest but also driving the owls away from any dangerous alternatives (like near the road).
Fences and Outdoor Decor:
Fences kill millions of birds, and owls are an extremely vulnerable part of this number because owls fly low over vast open spaces specifically when they are hunting. Sadly owls have trouble seeing some fences, specifically wired fences (which are often electric) because they hunt mostly at night. Sadly birds may not be able to acknowledge that a wire will be a hard material that could hurt them, they are mostly accustomed to grasslands that resemble the thickness of a wire and therefore the owls may assume they can fly through a wire fence unharmed.
What We Can Do:
It is hard to target this problem to try and stop it from posing such an issue because fences are important for many different reasons and are necessary. One thing that we can do is ensure that any old fences no longer in use are taken down to avoid any unnecessary collisions with our birds. Likewise I advise anyone using a barbed wire fence or similar to consider other safer options. If possible please use thicker more obvious fences which a bird is more likely to see and avoid. If this is not an option then please check your fences often for animals as time is valuable for these animals survival. Not only will these animals be injured, they may end up dehydrated and starving if they are left for a long period and this can be easily avoided. Often owls can be treated and rehabilitated after fence injuries (if no electricity is involved) therefore if you find an owl (or any animal) caught in a fence, please report it to a licensed rescue facility. Likewise any outdoor decor can cause similar issues. If you have lights or any form of hanging decor strung across your garden these can injury or capture Owls leaving them vulnerable to predators.
Poaching:
Poaching is a serious problem for many wild animals but owls have an added quality as they are linked to tantric rituals worldwide and therefore poaching of owls is known to be encouraged in some countries. During Diwali, India is known for their staggering numbers of owl trading and poaching. Owls are trapped and sacrificed during the festival of lights and it has been found that almost 15 species of owls are sacrificed during this time. Even though this poaching of owls was banned under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India it does not appear to help as almost 75,000 owls are smuggled and killed in India each year for Diwali festivals. Owls are also used in black magic practises and some native medicine practitioners will cook owls believing they have magic abilities.
What We Can Do:
The most we can do is fight for important international trade and hunting laws so that these owls can be protected by the criminal justice system. Owl poaching is a criminal offence in India leading to imprisonment for 3-7 years and this includes international trade in owls. We must keep our interest in these laws to ensure they are held up and accounted for. Also ensure to report any suspicious behaviour if you think somebody may be a poacher or involved in the animal trade.
Starvation:
Starvation becomes a rising problem within the owl population specifically during winter months. During winter, food is much harder for owls to find and ice layers between the snow can mean that owls cannot plunge for prey. Also many owls such as Barn Owls are poorly insulated from snow and need extra food to give them extra energy to make up for loss of body heat. Therefore owls need more food during winter when they are struggling to find it the most. The only positive about this is that the snow can protect rodents from being hunted as they can hide below the surface. This will mean that there will be plenty of food once breeding season comes around and hopefully any numbers of owls lost in the winter can be regained.
What We Can Do:
The best way to help these animals during the winter months is to ensure your bird feeders are regularly topped up!
I hope this answered any questions you had regarding the biggest threats to our owl population and together I hope we can all play a role in helping to keep these wonderful birds as safe as possible!
