How an Owl Box Could be an Excellent Rodent Deterrent

If you are truly serious about implementing a long-term, effective solution for tackling a rodent problem, you should strongly consider obtaining an Owl Box! There are many reasons why Owls can provide you with the protection you need. Let’s go through some of the most Frequently Asked Questions regarding Owl Boxes so you can know what to expect!

What type of owl do Owl Boxes attract?

Owl Boxes aim to attract the Barn Owl. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe and secure location where the owls can nest.  Once the Owl Box is found, it will be used year after year for nesting. Barn Owls inhabit all continents, except for Antarctica, and are pretty commonly found in the United States.

How effective are Barn Owls at killing rodents?

Barn Owls kill more rodents pound for pound than any other organism on the planet. Adult Barn Owls can eat 1-2 rodents per night, while baby Barn Owls can eat 2-5 rodents per night. Given that Barn Owls can lay 3-6 eggs on average per nesting season, that can equate to at least 3,000 rodents per year per Owl Box!

How long will it take to attract Barn Owls? Are there certain times of the year that are most effective?

It can anywhere from a few days to a few years for Owl Boxes to be found. You have the highest chance of attracting some owls during mating season from December to April.

Given this gap period, Owl Boxes should only be used as part of a long-term solution for solving a rodent issue. During the gap period, remember that your car is still exposed. It is super important that you at least place snap traps around your car tires and pop your car’s hood up at the first sign of damage (see Snap Trap and Pop Car Hood Up section of the Home page).

Do Barn Owls have any predators? What are the biggest dangers to Barn Owls? How long do Barn Owls live?

Yes. Owls are most notably prey of the Great Horned Owl, which is a larger owl. They are also at risk from other bigger birds including hawks and eagles.

In urban areas, barn owls are commonly killed by flying into power lines, fences, and moving cars. Not to mention accidental poisonings.

Barn Owls typically live 18-24 months out in the wild. Which really means that they have 2 chances to mate and reproduce on average. Owl Boxes certainly help to facilitate that.

What other forms of rodent control can I use in conjunction with an Owl Box?

First of all DO NOT USE POISON. If an owl consumes a rodent that has poison in its system it could certainly kill the owl. This unfortunately is very common. Given that rodents reproduce at a much faster pace than owls, the accidental poisoning of an owl could actually increase the rodent population in your area. If you are going to purchase an owl box please do not use any rat poison.

Alright, so what you CAN do (as previously mentioned) is lay down snap traps on the front, top, and back of the tread of your front 2 tires and pop your car’s hood up. You could also use any peppermint spray or ultrasonic noise maker.

I live in a city. Will I still be able to attract owls?

Unless you live in a big city with only sky scrapers and no nature around, then you should be able to attract some owls. They surprisingly can exist in pretty populated areas as long as there is some elements of nature around (tall trees, parks, fields, etc.).

Where should I place my Owl Box?

The absolute best place to put an owl box is on the edge of a field or tree line. They like to hunt in open areas and if they have a perch where they can survey the scene that would be ideal. You should also make sure that the entrance to the box is at least 10 feet above the ground. The best direction to face the entrance would be either north or east.

I have a large amount of territory to cover. How many Owl Boxes should I get?

If you live on a large amount of land, such as a vineyard or a farm you may need to consider getting multiple owl boxes. Barn Owls are not very territorial of their hunting grounds, so there isn’t much need to concern with getting too many owl boxes. On the most conservative side, I would say to get at least 1 owl box for every 10-12 acres of land you need to cover.

Are there certain states that Barn Owls are more difficult to attract?

Yes. Barn Owls are pretty commonly found in the United States but they are less commonly found in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Is there anything that needs to be done once the owls move in?

Once the owls arrive they are best to be left undisturbed. This is very important or else you may scare them off. When a female owl is during the incubation period, she will refuse to leave the nesting box. If she feels threatened, she will leave the owl box and will most likely not return. This is why you really need to leave these owls alone as soon as they move in. You can detect the presence of owls visibly by seeing white droppings near the entrance to the owl box. You will also find owl pellets on the ground under neath the owl box.

Do I need to clean my owl box? What type of upkeep do I need to do?

Owl boxes needs to be cleaned once a year. It is important that you only do this during non-mating season. I have heard the October may be the best month (or early fall) to do this since there is the least likelihood that the owls will be present in the box at that time.

When cleaning the owl box, you need to be SUPER careful and be sure to wear a mask and gloves. You are at risk of contracting many diseases when doing the cleaning, including Hantavirus. There will be at least 2-3 inches of material in the box on the floor. This material may be very hard so you might need a crow bar or something strong to pry the material off of the ground. I would just throw all of that in the trash once removed and then you are all set.

Where can I buy an Owl Box?

Amazon sells a pre-assembled Owl box (JC’s Wildlife Barn Owl Nesting Box) that is pretty decently priced when you compare to other owl box vendors. They also sell a version for even less money that you can assemble yourself (JC’s Wildlife Barn Owl Nesting Box Do It Yourself Assembly Kit).

I hope that this article has been helpful in making you decision on whether or not to purchase an owl box!

If you have any questions/comments, please drop a note below!

Thank you!!

-Rat King Dave

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