Drivers urged to watch for low-flying owls in Greater Victoria

Published 5:30 am Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Wildlife experts are urging Greater Victoria drivers to stay alert, warning that dozens of owls are struck by vehicles each year while hunting along local roads, particularly during fall and late winter.

Wallis Reid, senior wildlife rehabilitator at the BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC), says their staff treats an average of 60 owls annually due to road collisions.

“We get owls coming in with head trauma, eye injuries, fractures and internal injuries consistent with vehicle strikes,” Reid said.

Wild ARC currently has two owls in care, a barred owl admitted Feb. 8 and a great horned owl admitted Jan. 4, both found roadside and suspected to have been hit by vehicles.

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According to a BC SPCA report released in October 2025, 18 owls representing four species, and three red-tailed hawks were admitted to Wild ARC in 2024 after being struck by vehicles while foraging.

February is considered especially dangerous. Owls hunt rodents along the shoulder of the road and in ditches, where shorter grass and snowmelt make prey easier to spot.

“Owls hunt primarily by sound and often fly low over open ground while searching for prey,” said Ann Nightingale, board member and volunteer with the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. “They cross low over roads and are right in the path of vehicles.”

Barred owls are among the species most commonly struck in the region, partly because they adapt well to human environments and may hunt in urban areas as well as forests, Nightingale said.

Long winter nights increase the risk.

“Owls are out hunting more frequently when nights are longer,” she added.

Food waster also contributes to roadside risk. “Throwing food scraps from vehicles attracts rodents,” Reid said. “That brings predators like owls closer to roads.”

Experts say vehicle strikes are not the only threat owls face.

Rodenticide poisoning is a significant danger because owls consume poisoned rodents, allowing toxins to accumulate in their bodies.

Wild ARC relies heavily on members of the public to transport injured wildlife. If an owl survives a collision, timely rescue is critical.

After intake and examination, treatment may include medication, wound care and fracture stabilization. Recovered birds are exercised in flight enclosures before being released near where they were found.

Drivers can help reduce collisions by slowing down at night, watching for low-flying birds, using high beams when safe and avoiding littering.

While winter months pose heightened risk, experts say collisions occur year-round. Owls are protected wildlife in British Columbia, and increased awareness can help protect these nocturnal hunters.

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