Factors Affecting Burrowing Owl Sample Clauses

Factors Affecting Burrowing Owl. Habitat loss and degradation is the single most important threat to persistence, mostly due to declines in prairie dog colonies and to land conversion for urban and agricultural uses145. Elimination of burrowing rodents through control programs has also been identified as the primary factor in the recent and historical decline of burrowing owl populations146. Loss to predation in fragmented and/or urban landscapes where edge-loving and domestic predator densities are high has been identified as a threat to burrowing owls147. Additionally, indirect effects of sylvatic plague on burrowing owls that use prairie dog colonies has the potential to significantly affect burrowing owls through loss of habitat and food sources.148 Insecticides and rodenticides can directly kill or reduce the growth and reproductive rates of owls in agricultural areas149. Incidental shooting of burrowing owls as a byproduct of recreational shooting of 139 McDonald et al. (2004) 140 Xxxxxxxx et al. (2001) 141 Xxxxxxxx (2000a) 142 WGFD (2006) 143 Xxxxx et al. (2001) 144 WGFD (2006) 145 McDonald et al. (2004) 146 Deschant et al. (2001), Xxxxx et al. (2003), McDonald et al. (2004) 147 Xxxxx et al. (2003), McDonald et al. (2004) 148 ibid 149 Deschant et al. (2001), Xxxxx et al. (2003), McDonald et al. (2004) prairie dogs has been documented, although it is not likely a significant threat150. Because burrowing owls do not appear to scavenge prairie dog carcasses, ingestion of lead fragments is not considered to be a threat to burrowing owls151. Collision with vehicles has been cited as a source of mortality, but the significance of this mortality is not known152.