A barn owl nesting box at Omeg Orchards. Notice the metal underneath the box that’s used to prevent raccoons from climbing the pole to reach the next. PHOTO BY MELISSA HANSEN As growers put barn owls and other raptors to work in their orchards and vineyards for rodent control, care must be taken to ensure that any rodenticides used do not poison the very ­raptors being encouraged to hunt and roost. Since installing barn owl and kestrel nesting boxes and raptor perches in his orchard, Mike Omeg, cherry grower from The Dalles, Oregon, has greatly reduced his rodent control costs. […]