Mortality of an apex predator, the eagle owl bubo bubo, in Israel 2007-2021

Anthropogenic structures and installations in wild areas are known to directly and indirectly affect wildlife populations, especially apex predators such as Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo). To understand the situation at the na-tional level we analyzed data collected by the Scientific Data Department of the Israel Nature and Parks Au-thority and the wildlife hospital at the Safari in Ramat Gan. We analyzed a total of 189 dead Eagle Owls during fifteen years, 2007-2021; 39.7% were electrocuted, 29.2% roadkill, 12.7% flew into fences/barbed wire, 3.8% drowned, and 14.9% died from other causes. The largest mortality of the Eagle Owls was detected in agricultural (34.92 %) and urban areas (31.74%). Also, the pylons identified as lethal should be prioritized and modified with appropriate insulators. Only a sincere effort on the part of the authorities will the continued electrocution of eagle owls and other avian wildlife be truncated.

Automated summary

Anthropogenic structures and installations have a direct and indirect impact on wildlife populations in wild areas, especially apex predators like Eagle Owls. A study in Israel found that electrocution and roadkill were the main causes of death for Eagle Owls, with agricultural and urban areas having the highest mortality rates. The study suggests prioritizing the modification of lethal pylons and using appropriate insulators to reduce the electrocution of Eagle Owls and other avian wildlife.