Barred owl partakes in shellfish snack on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Published 8:13 am Sunday, May 8, 2022

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Barred owls (Strix varia) live on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge year ’round.

Recently they’ve been seen dining on crayfish (also known as crawdads, crawfish or mudbugs) found along the banks of the refuge canals. It may be difficult to tell, but the owl seen here is eating a crayfish, freshly caught just below the owl’s perch in the bankside woods.

Barred owls also dine on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

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For their personal safety, barred owls keep an eye out for their main threat, the great horned owl, states USFWS.

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