Photo Ark: Snowy Owl

The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large bird of prey with a remarkably large distribution. They can be found throughout high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, including Canada, Greenland, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, and Japan. During the breeding season, Alaska is the only U.S. state far enough north to host these birds, but in the winter they can be found as far south as Oklahoma.

Worldwide, the population of snowy owls is estimated to be around 200,000. Because snowy owls breed north of the Arctic Circle, they are at little risk of direct habitat destruction from humans; their preferred habitat is largely inhospitable for humans. Some native peoples hunt snowy owls for their meat, claws, and feathers, and occasional accidental deaths are reported due to human activity and infrastructure, but these probably have little impact on the overall population. However, snowy owls are dependent on cold weather climates and the small mammals, like lemmings, that inhabit them for food, especially during the breeding season. Changing climates and warming global temperatures are likely to restrict the habitat and food available for these majestic and widespread birds.