Barn Owl dies from eating a poisoned rat

Barn Owl dies from eating a poisoned rat As a fluffy owlet, the Barn Owl had been banded by a Hungry Owl Project and WildCare (California wildlife rehab center) volunteer in 2005. Eight years later, WildCare's Wildlife Hospital admitted the bird, and identified her by the federal band around her leg as a nestling we'd met before. This owl had survived well beyond the average lifespan of a Barn Owl, and she had successfully maintained a territory in San Rafael, less than ten miles from where she had hatched as an owlet. But when she was admitted to the Wildlife Hospital in October of last year, this owl was dead on arrival. We sent tissue samples for testing, and, when we received the final toxicology report, the evidence was unequivocal: This Barn Owl died of rat poisoning.