A barn owl brings a gopher to the nearly grown owlets. Barn owls, described by some as “nothing but a beak and stomach,” are among the most skilled rodent hunters in North America. Installing barn owl nesting boxes in orchards and vineyards has become a popular integrated pest management practice, but an effective program involves more than just putting up a box. Design of the box, placement, number, and maintenance all influence roosting and rodent control success. Boxes provide both a place for barn owls to roost in the fall and a safe nesting spot to raise their family of […]