Of eagles and owls...

Driving around Bates County say, 20 years ago vs the same drive today, you'll see more eagles and owls than most of us remember in a long time. Why? 

According to the Missouri Conservation Department:

The bald eagle is a real success story because the species’ numbers have greatly rebounded following the banning of the pesticide DDT in 1972. Although formerly a rare sight in Missouri, we now have

thousands of overwintering eagles in the state each year and more than 175 active nests each spring. Because bald eagles will also scavenge for food, they are being seen more frequently on Missouri’s roadways, where road-killed animals provide an easy food source. I have had several contacts from Missourians observing these birds along roadways. Don’t be surprised if you round a corner on a Missouri highway one day and find scavenging bald eagles, like the vultures that you are accustomed to seeing recycling road-killed animals.

As predators, owls play an important role in controlling mice, rats, and rabbits, which can become pests. In the process, they tend to

select those easiest to catch — slower, weaker, or diseased — thus forging a healthier prey population. Because one owl needs a lot of prey animals to survive, not many owls can share a given area. For this reason, owls can easily be forced toward extinction when they lose food sources, habitat, or protection from excessive hunting. In contrast, many make Missouri their home as such food and resources are quite plentiful.

-credit and thanks to the MDC