Dining on Shellfish
Barred owls (Strix varia) live on Alligator River Refuge year 'round. Recently they've been seen dining on crayfish (crawdads, crawfish, mudbugs) found along the banks of the refuge canals. It's difficult to tell, but in the bottom photo the owl is eating a crayfish, freshly caught just below the owl's perch in the bankside woods. Barred owls also dine on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. For their personal safety, barred owls keep an eye out for their main threat, the great horned owl.
