Owls hunting along roadways are being struck by cars

Nanaimo drivers are being cautioned to look out for hungry owls feasting on roadkill on the roads at this time of year.

Less daylight and fog combined with owls on the hunt for food makes it an especially dangerous time to be an avian predator, according to experts.

One barred owl that was hit by a car in Nanaimo last week is on the road to recovery, but many others are not so lucky, said Julie Mackey of North Island Wildlife Recovery Association in Errington.

“We have quite a few of them right now,” Mackey said. “They’re hunting along roadsides and in ditches and that type of thing. They’re hungry this time of year, because their food source is low.”

Barred owls hunt for rodents, insects and occasionally smaller birds. The wildlife centre has six of the owls in its care that are recovering from vehicle collisions, and released three others on New Year’s Eve. Because the birds have hollow bones and large eye sockets, they are fragile and easily injured or killed.

The most recently hit bird, an adult male, suffered a severe concussion, but no broken bones.

Veterinarians could tell it had a concussion, she said, because of its eyes and the way it was responding to light.

When owls are taken into the wildlife centre, they are put into enclosed areas if they need special care.

Later, they are put into a larger flight cage so staff can assess how well they are perching and flying. If they do well, they can be released back into the wild. Public viewing is closed, but they admit animals year round.