Eagle owls are so-called ambush predators, which means that they prefer to watch their prey from above. They keep an eye out for prey such as mice, rats and hares – often from RhB’s overhead line masts. The dangerous thing about these popular observation posts is that the overhead lines are electrically charged. These can short-circuit, especially when birds land and take off, causing the animals to die. This is particularly the case with bird species with large wingspans, such as the eagle owl. In 2018, a third of all eagle owls killed died as a result of a short circuit. In Switzerland, electrocution is the most common, non-natural cause of death of the eagle owl.
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