Owls are nature’s best rodent control, here’s how to make them feel at home in your yard. Owls can serve as all-natural pest control for American farmers and homeowners alike, if we welcome them onto our property… and don’t poison them. 

  Research shows the percentage of owl carcasses containing rodenticide increased 10-fold between 1983 and 2006, to 63%. It only takes eating three mice containing the poison Brodifacoum within a couple of weeks to kill an owl. 

They die slowly, from internal bleeding, over a period of 1 to 3 weeks. Instead of killing these helpful creatures, we should be making our homes, gardens and farms more accommodating for them so they can provide non-toxic, all natural pest control for us. All they need is food, shelter, and water and owls will make any place their home. 

 Voles, rats, mice, skunks, and other varmints looking for a midnight snack, will think twice about coming out of their holes to feast on your flower bed and crops, when these predators start swooping down from the night sky to devour them. The average owl eats over 1000 mice per year. If you’re lucky enough to have barn owls, this species hunts in small groups and, together, can eat hundreds of rodents per night. 

 Not only do they eliminate pests, but they do so with little cost or effort on your part. Along with keeping rodents in check, owls coexist peacefully with other birds nearby. Because they hunt at night and sleep during the day, other birds will hardly notice they’re there. 

 In order to attract owls, you might consider a bird feeder outside of your house. Mice like to go after seeds that fall on the ground below, luring them into the owls’ path. Mice also like untouched wood and brush piles. All of these places are prime spots for owls to circle in on their prey. 

 Just make sure to plug up any holes around your house, so they don’t make their way into your pantry or cupboard. While owls get most of their water from their prey, having a bird bath for them to indulge in will make their stay a little more comfortable. 

 Owls prefer shaded, secluded areas to rest during the day. Hollowed out trees with branches they can perch on make ideal habitats. So do man-made nesting boxes. By providing a place where owls can feel safe sleeping all day, you are much more likely to be successful in attracting these predators.
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