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BasedAlliance935 t1_j94yzd6 wrote

You sure that's a good idea? He's technically an invasive species to the local environment and could potentially generate a new subspecies should he ever mate with another owl

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scorr204 t1_j950zgo wrote

They probably assessed that risk and probably know a good deal more about it than you.

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___pa___ t1_j95nysy wrote

What would zookeepers, handlers and vets that have been working with this specific owl know about what to do? They really should be reading reddit if they want to know the right way to deal with this.

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/s (but I assume not necessary...)

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SockyNoob t1_j9szcxb wrote

Strange how tons of people on Twitter who are in the field disagreed and a prominent New York bird watching account disabled replies because of it.

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BasedAlliance935 t1_j95199j wrote

You also have to consider that he was an animal living in captivity now out in the wild, wouldn't that negatively effect his chances at survival (especially considering nyc isn't really the most forrested city)

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scorr204 t1_j951eg2 wrote

No because if you have been following any of the news around him, he is finding an absolute abundance of prey in central park. If anything he might get overweight. Owls can live almost anywhere there are small critters.

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House_Boat_Mom t1_j95nos0 wrote

Who knew we just needed some owls to deal with these rats

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Aviri t1_j95nvzm wrote

But what will we do once the owl population explodes?

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House_Boat_Mom t1_j966vvz wrote

Nothing? Let them eat the rats and eventually there will be some natural balance.

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Lovis_Iovis t1_j95rxtc wrote

NYC already has native owls and hawks that eat rats. This eagle owl is a threat to those native rat killers. Eurasian eagle owls regularly kill and eat other birds of prey in their native range, and there is no reason to suspect it won’t do the same here.

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FernwehForLife t1_j962wjc wrote

This is not correct. There is a concern. If there wasn't, they wouldn't be attempting to retrieve the owl.

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FernwehForLife t1_j962ih0 wrote

You're correct. As someone with some insider info on the owl, there is certainly a concern. And the owl may be fine if it stays in the park, but it could be detrimental if it attempts to leave, not being used to a city environment.

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___pa___ t1_j95djkx wrote

I really do not think it was the zoo's idea. Some idiot vandalized the enclosure, he got out and the zoo has been trying to get him back. But they found out he can survive on his own and as the article states they will watch him and try to get him back if necessary, but I assume it it was easy he would be back. Not sure what else the zoo could do at this point.

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dempom t1_j95lsgg wrote

Non-native species are not necessarily invasive species.

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elizabeth-cooper t1_j95snzf wrote

These define an invasive species:

  1. They can survive a large variety of habitats or environmental conditions.

  2. They outcompete native species for resources like food and water.

  3. They often lack natural enemies (predators, competitors, and parasites) in their new habitat.

  4. They grow and reproduce rapidly.

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/rough-reputation-are-invasive-species-all-bad

One single owl probably does not have the ability to do this but that doesn't mean it couldn't potentially be a concern.

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Lovis_Iovis t1_j95s3ea wrote

A non native apex predator released into any environment will impact that environment in negative ways.

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EdgeOrnery6679 t1_j95vl3a wrote

I mean hows a single owl going to impact the environment? Hes just eating mice, which practically has an unlimited population in this city, and their only natural predators are stray cats and the dozen or so hawks.

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Lovis_Iovis t1_j95yohj wrote

NYC already has native owls and hawks that eat rats (and far more than a dozen or so!) This eagle owl is a threat to those native rat killers. Eurasian eagle owls regularly kill and eat other birds of prey in their native range, and there is no reason to suspect it won’t do the same here.

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SockyNoob t1_j9sz6q8 wrote

Owls eat a lot more than rodents. Some eat entire birds.

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AnacharsisIV t1_j968jdq wrote

Central Park is itself not a natural development: every rock and blade of grass was placed there as opposed to being a piece of primordial Manhattan forest. And it's filled with invasive species like pigeons and rats already. As long as flaco stays in central park there's nothing for him to fuck up, really.

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Lovis_Iovis t1_j96gdnn wrote

Manhattan lies along the Atlantic Flyway, an important migratory route for hundreds of bird species. This route is ancient and ingrained into the DNA of these birds. Regardless of the nature of its construction, Central Park is one of the largest sections of stopover habitat along the urban part of this migratory route. Eurasian eagle owls like Flaco are indiscriminate predators that native birds in the US do not naturally have to deal with. A native great horned owl in Central Park is at risk of predation or injury by this owl, as are red tailed hawks.

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SockyNoob t1_j9sz44s wrote

Downvoted for telling the truth. NYC is full of some clowns I swear.

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