Have you seen social media pictures or videos of owls being rescued after being hit by a car? They've been popping up all over TikTok, Facebook, X, and other platforms this winter. The number of owl-related vehicle incidents is continuing to rise. Why is this happening?

Two Owls Rescued In One Day In Northern Minnesota

Just this past holiday season, a woman rescued two owls in one day in Northern Minnesota.

One of the owls was found in the grille of a car at Bentleyville in Duluth. A woman not only rescued that owl and brought it to Wildwoods, but they also found an injured owl near Lutsen, Minnesota, and brought that in too. Sadly, the owl found at Bentleyville didn't recover and was euthanized after determining that the injuries were too severe, and the humane thing was to put the owl down.

The other owl rescued from Lutsen, (a great grey owl) was last reported to be recovering at The Raptor Center with serious injuries.

6 Owls Rescued Over Weekend, 5 Hit By Cars

Wildwoods says that 6 owls were admitted last Friday and Saturday. Here's what kind of owls were brought in.

Injured - Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl

Wildwoods via Facebook
Wildwoods via Facebook
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Injured - Two Great Owls

Wildwoods Via Facebook
Wildwoods Via Facebook
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Injured - 3 Boreal Owls

Wildwoods Via Facebook
Wildwoods Via Facebook
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Sadly, only 4 of them survived and are being treated at The Raptor Center for their injuries. Wildwoods is asking for donations to help cover the cost of their care.

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Why are so many owls being hit by cars this year in Minnesota?

It appears to be an irruption year for some owl species, which means that they have been reproducing at a higher level than usual. Because of the increased population, the birds spread out further in the region than they normally would. Many of the owls being admitted are juveniles.

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Owls are attracted to roadways.

Like a lot of wildlife, owls look for food near roadways. Not only for roadkill but also for rodents who may be drawn to the roadkill. Because owls have terrible peripheral vision, they can't see vehicles on the road when they fly across, causing these accidents.

What can you do as a motorist?

Wildwoods urges drivers to be on the lookout for the birds. Slow down, and be aware of animals that are attracted to roads.

LOOK: Here are the states where you are most likely to hit an animal

Hitting an animal while driving is a frightening experience, and this list ranks all 50 states in order of the likelihood of such incidents happening, in addition to providing tips on how to avoid them.

Gallery Credit: Dom DiFurio & Jacob Osborn

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