1. Human Activity:
- Collisions with vehicles: Owls may be struck by cars, especially if roads pass through their habitats.
- Electrocutions: Barn owls can come into contact with live electrical wires, resulting in electrocution.
- Poisoning: Pesticides and rodenticides can cause poisoning if consumed by barn owls or their prey.
- Habitat destruction: Conversion of natural areas, including their nesting and foraging grounds, can impact their survival.
2. Natural Causes:
- Starvation: Food shortages, such as reduced rodent populations or adverse weather conditions, can limit their access to prey.
- Diseases and parasites: Various infectious diseases, such as aspergillosis or avian influenza, and parasitic infestations can impact their health.
- Predation: While rare, barn owls can fall victim to larger predators like other owls, hawks, eagles, or even mammalian predators like foxes or coyotes.
3. Age: Like any other living organism, barn owls have a finite lifespan, which is typically around 10-15 years in the wild. Aging-related health issues and natural wear and tear can contribute to mortality.
It's important to note that these causes of death are not exclusive, and multiple factors can interact and contribute to the mortality of barn owls in different contexts.