Carrion-feeding by Barred Owls (Strix varia)

Abstract Few documented reports exist that describe carrion-feeding by owls. We produce a conclusive record of carrion-feeding by Barred Owls (Strix varia) from photographs taken with a passive-infrared wildlife camera trap baited with the whole or partial carcasses of road-killed mammals (eastern gray squirrel [Sciurus carolinensis] and white-tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus]). We recorded multiple pictures in two documented occurrences (one in Oct 2010 and the other in Dec 2010) over multiple days of a Barred Owl visiting both fresh and mostly-decayed carcasses. Attempts to lure owls to camera traps through use of tainted chicken and turkey meat were unsuccessful, and no additional owl pictures were obtained from unbaited cameras throughout 2010.