Barn owls are medium-sized owls with long legs, long wings, and a square-shaped facial disk. They get their name from their habit of nesting in barns and other man-made structures. Barn owls have several characteristics that make them appealing to farmers and homeowners with barns or outbuildings. However, there are also some potential downsides to attracting barn owls. This article will examine the pros and cons of having barn owls around your barn.
Quick Answers
– Barn owls are natural pest control, feasting on rodents that can damage crops and stored grains. A single barn owl family can consume thousands of rodents per year.
– Barn owls don’t build nests, so they keep barns cleaner than other bird species by not bringing in sticks, leaves, etc.
– Barn owls don’t damage insulation or wiring like rodents do. Their small feathered bodies and light weight do not cause any structural damage.
– Barn owls make very little noise and are generally not disturbing to humans or livestock.
– However, barn owls do leave behind regurgitated pellets and white-wash droppings that must be cleaned up.
– Loud noises, pesticides, and lack of nesting sites have caused barn owl populations to decline in many areas. They may need human help with nest boxes and habitat protection to thrive.
Rodent Control
One of the biggest benefits barn owls provide is natural rodent control. Rodents like mice, voles, and rats can cause major problems if populations get out of control. They contaminate and consume stored animal feed, damage insulation, chew on electrical wiring, and spread diseases. Barn owls are outstanding natural pest control, hunting almost exclusively on rodents.
Rodent Consumption
A single barn owl can consume over 1,000 rodents per year. A family of barn owls, which might consist of 2 adults and 6 owlets, can consume well over 5,000 rodents in a single breeding season.
Having just one family of barn owls in or around a barn can make a huge dent in the local rodent population. The hunting activity of barn owls significantly reduces the need for expensive rodenticides and risky poisons. Barn owls provide natural, chemical-free pest control night after night.
Barn Owls | Rodents Consumed Per Year |
---|---|
Single owl | 1,000 |
Owl family | 5,000+ |
Night Hunting
One reason barn owls are so effective at controlling rodents is because they hunt at night when rodents are most active. Barn owls have excellent low light vision and keen hearing to locate scurrying rodents in the dark. While humans and other diurnal predators sleep, barn owls patrol fields, orchards, and farms in search of prey. This night hunting keeps pressure on rodent populations that could otherwise spike after dusk.
Cleanliness
In addition to rodent control, barn owls promote cleanliness in barns and outbuildings in a couple of ways. First, they do not build nests out of sticks, leaves, and other materials that can attract vermin. Barn owls nest in cavities or crevices, so their nests do not create debris.
Secondly, by controlling rodents, barn owls reduce the amount of feces, urine, and dead bodies that rodents would otherwise leave behind. Their presence greatly reduces sources of potential disease and foul odors. Barn owl droppings tend to be manageable when a barn is cleaned regularly.
Minimal Noise
Barn owls make very little noise compared to other owl species. The only sounds made by barn owls are occasional hissing, clicking, or soft screeching between mates. But barn owls do not hoot loudly or make sounds that would disturb livestock or humans resting in a barn at night. This makes them ideal for sharing space with people and animals.
Drawbacks of Barn Owls
While barn owls have many beneficial qualities, there are some potential drawbacks associated with attracting them to your barn. These should be considered before putting up nest boxes or making major efforts to invite barn owls in.
Droppings and Pellets
Like all animals, barn owls do leave behind waste. Barn owl droppings tend to be looser than those of rodents. The owls also regurgitate indigestible rodent parts as pellets. These pellets help owl researchers identify what small mammals are in the area, but owners may see them as messy.
Pellets and droppings should be regularly cleaned out of barns or nest boxes. Otherwise they can attract flies, get tracked around, or stink up the space. But overall, the droppings and pellets of a few owls are a small tradeoff for major rodent control.
Not 100% Effective
While barn owls are impressive night hunters, they do not eliminate 100% of rodents in an area. Some can still slip by and breed rapidly. Barn owls work best as part of an integrated pest management approach combining owl predation, smart food storage, and some traps or low-toxicity rodenticides if needed.
It is unrealistic to expect barn owls alone to solve a major existing rodent infestation. But they are an excellent form of maintenance control once rodent populations are reduced to reasonable levels. As part of a comprehensive pest management plan, barn owls can help keep rodents in check long-term.
May Frighten Some People
Barn owls have large staring eyes and can startle some people when they swoop down from rafters at night. Their screeches, though not loud, can be eerie in dark barns. Barn owls are also widely associated with haunted houses, darkness, and death in popular culture. While baseless, these supernatural associations may give some people negative impressions of barn owls roosting in their barns. Providing education on the benefits of barn owls can help overcome unwarranted fears.
Attracting Barn Owls
If you want to invite barn owls to act as natural pest control, there are a few key strategies:
Nest Boxes
Putting up barn owl nest boxes is the most direct way to provide suitable nesting sites. The inside of barns may not offer safe, secluded cavities for nesting without boxes. Nest boxes should be placed 10-15 feet high on rafters, walls, or poles in somewhat open areas of the structure. Deep drainage litter and wood shavings can be added to boxes.
Open Access
Keep doors, windows, vents, cupolas, or other openings accessible so barn owls can enter and exit freely on their nightly hunts. Openings should be at least 3 inches tall and wide without perches or obstacles in front. Bright exterior lights near exits should be minimized.
Habitat Protection
Protect grassy fields, meadows, wetlands, tree groves, and other hunting grounds surrounding barns. Barn owls need these habitats rich in rodents and other small prey within about 300 feet of nest sites. Removing rodenticides, insecticides, or seed treatments toxic to owls in nearby habitat can also help attract them.
Avoid Disturbance
Limit loud noises, bright lights, and human activity in barns or outbuildings housing roosting owls, especially during nesting season. Check nest boxes carefully just once or twice per season when owls are not present to clean out old nesting material. Handle young owls or eggs only when necessary to avoid nest abandonment.
Barn Owl Populations: Past and Present
Historically barn owls were very common across much of North America with populations likely in the hundreds of thousands or millions. But in the 1900s, their numbers declined steeply due to a mix of threats. Today, barn owls are considered endangered, threatened, or a species of concern in over half of US states.
Population Declines
It is estimated that barn owl populations declined by up to 70% between the 1940s and 2000s. The causes included:
– Loss of nesting sites as old barns were torn down
– Loss of hunting habitat from development and changing agricultural practices
– Vehicle collisions
– Declining rodent populations from improved sanitation practices
– Exposure to pesticides and other toxins
Time Period | Estimated Barn Owl Population |
---|---|
1940s | Several million |
2000s | Roughly 1 million |
Conservation Efforts
Due to declining barn owl populations across North America, many conservation groups now work to restore and protect these unique owls. Some key efforts involve:
– Installing nest boxes in barns, silos, and other structures
– Monitoring and tracking barn owl populations
– Educating landowners on owl-friendly practices
– Protecting and restoring grassland habitat through easements
– Working with transportation departments to reduce vehicle collisions
– Reducing use of rodenticides that may poison owls
– Release programs for injured rehabilitated owls
These efforts have helped stabilize some regional barn owl populations. But more work is needed to ensure robust, self-sustaining populations going forward. Barn owls remain a species of conservation concern across most of their range.
Conclusion
Barn owls offer valuable rodent control services, promote cleanliness, and peacefully co-exist with humans. But their populations are still threatened and require active management. With appropriate habitat and nest sites, barn owls can thrive and provide natural pest control. But they need to be part of an integrated plan along with smart food storage, sanitation, and some limited use of traps or low-toxicity baits where necessary. By balancing natural owl predation and other best practices, farms and rural properties can successfully manage rodents and support barn owl conservation.