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Climate change has had a significant impact on a multitude of global issues ranging from the environment to even politics; the Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, is another organism that is feeling the effects of warming temperatures impede on its natural habitat in the northern circumpolar region. Varying degrees of climate change have significant impacts on the apex predator’s prey, which subsequently relocate, thus forcing Snowy Owls to migrate as well.

Watch this spot by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on recent peculiar migrations of Snowy Owls below:

Trends have indicated that Snowy Owls are moving in a Southern manner, and recently states such as Washington have witnessed Snowy Owls in the region.  A recent mass migration event in 2011 – 2012 where thousands of sightings were reported across the United States has piqued the curiosity of researchers and bird hobbyists alike — Are the effects of increasing climate change directly responsible for these migrations?

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