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Summary 24Capsule Breeding population and temporary settlement area features may reduce eagle owl 25Bubo bubo prospection for breeding sites during natal dispersal. 26 Aims Understand how low prospection rates may emerge during the dispersal process due to (i) 27 the main features of the breeding and dispersing portions of the population and (ii) main prey 28 availability. 29Methods We explored the 10-year dynamics and characteristics of radiotagged breeders and 30 dispersers of an Eagle Owl Bubo bubo population. 31 Results Lack of prospection during the first years after dispersal departures occurs in settlement 32areas where dispersers stop during dispersal (settlement areas are non-breeding zones located on 33 the border of the sector where live and reproduce the breeding population). Such areas could be 34 difficult to leave because not only is food abundant, but intraspecific competition and mortality 35 are low. We suggest that the lack of prospection during dispersal may reduce the willingness of 36 individuals to search for breeding sites and, thus, these dispersal settlement areas have the 37 potential to impact on the viability of breeding populations. 38Conclusion To prevent potential negative consequences at the population level due to this long 39 settlement of dispersers in their temporary settlement areas, this latter should be considered, 40 from a conservation point of view, as important as breeding areas. Reducing juvenile mortality 41 in settlement areas may represent an overlooked conservation strategy for long-lived species and 42 may have crucial effect on the viability of the reproductive sectors of an animal population. 43 3