Improving the Health of the Scops Owl in Madrid

Populations of the scops owl have undergone significant declines in Europe. Since 1997, owls in Madrid have suffered from necrotic oropharingeal disease, a pathological condition caused by the parasite Gongylonema sp. Affected animals develop painful oral lesions, which results in starvation. Researchers hypothesize that owls are infected by the parasite after eating arthropods that serve as intermediary hosts. They hope to identify the intermediary host and design control measures that can be applied to urban parks, diminishing disease prevalence and improving the health status of the scops owl population in Madrid.