Read about the largest owl irruption (sudden population increase) in 20 years for Minnesota. Also some great stats about owl rehab from our friends at the University of MN Raptor Center!
This winter, northern Minnesota is experiencing an influx of owl species, particularly the Boreal Owl and the Great Gray Owl.
Owl sightings have increased in recent weeks, stretching from the Canadian Border to Duluth. The population influx is known as an owl irruption and is separate from annual migration patterns.
“Irruptions occur irregularly and vary greatly in magnitude,” Steve Kolbe, an avian ecologist at the University of Minnesota, said.
Kolbe said the main factor contributing to owl irruptions is “likely food.”
If populations of rodents, owls’ main source of food, have been abundant but then suddenly crash, owls will venture into nearby geographic areas in search of food.
While food sources are a significant factor, Kolbe said, other factors may be at play.
“Small rodent population cycles may drive the irruption of owls, especially if these population cycles match over geographic space,” Kolbe said. “But the ultimate drivers are likely complicated and may also involve environmental conditions such as snow depth and cover.”
Whether the current owl irruption in northern Minnesota is driven by food or environmental conditions, birdwatchers have flocked to backroads and highways throughout the Superior National Forest and Chippewa National Forest to take advantage of the phenomenon and hopefully catch a glimpse of the elusive and silent-winged bird.
“Birders throughout the Arrowhead region have been enjoying sightings of Great Gray and Boreal Owls for the past few weeks, even in the middle of town in places like Duluth and Two Harbors,” Kolbe said.
Kolbe said the current 2024-25 owl irruption is likely the largest irruption since 2004-05. However, it is “not even remotely close to the magnitude of the irruption that occurred in that year.”
Given that owls are primarily scavengers looking for rodents such as voles, mice, and shrews, they tend to be attracted to the side of a road, as rodents congregate at those locations to eat trash discarded from vehicles.
While the side of the road is a popular location for finding prey, it comes with a high level of risk and potential injury.
Wildwoods Rehabilitation Center, based in Duluth, admits approximately 100 injured raptors each year, with 25 to 35 of those being owls on average.
“The majority of these raptors are admitted after vehicle collisions,” Valerie Slocum, the Wildwoods Rehabilitation nursery manager, said.
While owls have powerful eyesight, they don’t have the best peripheral vision, given their eyes are affixed to the front of their head. As owls hunt for rodents along roadways, they tend to swoop low, often colliding with a vehicle.
“Owls really aren’t all that smart,” Steve Robinson, the Superior National Forest interpretation and education specialist, told WTIP. “Their hunting techniques frequently bring them into roadways with bad results for both the owl and your windshield.”
Slocum said Wildwoods Rehabilitation receives injured raptors and owls after being hit on various roadways throughout northern Minnesota, but most of the injuries occur on highways such as US-53, Hwy 61, and I-35.
While vehicle collisions are a leading cause of injuries, other reasons owls are admitted to Wildwoods Rehabilitation are due to flying into windows, being entrapped in netting or fencing, or illness.
With the owl irruption this year, Slocum said Wildwoods Rehabilitation is experiencing an increase in injured owls.
“We’ve seen quite a few more owls than we typically see,” she said. “I think there was one day we had five owl intakes or admits in one day. And most of them were ones that had been hit by a car, unfortunately.”
Recently, Wildwoods Rehabilitation made national headlines after a Minnesota woman rescued two owls on the same day near Two Harbors and Duluth. Both owls were injured in vehicle collisions.
Once an injured raptor or owl is received, Slocum said Wildwoods Rehabilitation will perform an exam and provide initial treatments. Then, they consult with The Raptor Center based in St. Paul about additional treatment options.
“Some injuries and conditions are not treatable and are euthanized,” Slocum said. “And those raptors that have the possibility to be treated are then transferred to The Raptor Center.”
Slocum said that for the last four years, approximately 34% of the owls they have received have been euthanized. Meanwhile, about 48% of the injured owls are transferred to The Raptor Center. The remaining 18%, she said, “either had died prior to their arrival to Wildwoods or died while in care.”
Over the 50-year history of The Raptor Center, the number of patients admitted each year has steadily increased.
Anthony Baffo, the communications manager at The Raptor Center in St. Paul, said that in 2024, the center admitted a record-setting 1105 wild raptor patients. Of the 1105 raptors, 351 were owls representing 11 species, Baffo said.
Typically, on average, The Raptor Center admits 300-305 owls.
“Trauma is the most common reason for admission,” Baffo said. “Car strikes are common, suspected source of trauma in our raptor patients.”
Baffo said when a bird enters their care, they “use every resource we have available to give them the best chance of recovery.”
He said that of the birds that survive the critical 48 hours of care, approximately 60% are released back into the wild.
With the owl irruption this year and, in turn, a slight increase in injured owls, bird researchers and rehabilitation centers are advising the public to remain aware while traveling along highways and backroads.
“I’d gently suggest that readers be careful if they are interested in seeing these birds, especially if they are doing so from roadways,” Kolbe said. “Making sure to park safely, give the birds plenty of space, and not lingering too long will not only be beneficial for the owls but also for local residents and people driving on the roads.”
That fear of missing that one perfect moment would drive me nuts too! I always hear setting limits for yourself drives creativity moreso than unlimited options does. Not using burst sounds like it might force you to be more thoughtful of shots.