Wildlife

Little Owl Welfare in Pastoral Farmland

Little owls are not native to the UK but have been established since the 1870s and are now amber-listed due to significant declines, primarily linked to changes in pastoral farming and loss of invertebrate prey.

Key Facts

Little owls were introduced to the UK from mainland Europe in the 19th century
They hunt earthworms, beetles and other invertebrates as well as small mammals
Populations have declined by 53% since 1995, closely tracking farmland invertebrate declines
They nest in tree holes and outbuildings and readily use nest boxes

Welfare Considerations

Little owl welfare is strongly linked to the availability of diverse permanent pasture supporting invertebrate prey. Agricultural improvement of grassland and reduction in mixed farming systems has significantly reduced food availability. In years with high rainfall reducing earthworm accessibility, body condition can deteriorate rapidly.

What You Can Do

Support farmland management that retains diverse permanent pasture with high invertebrate diversity
Install little owl nest boxes in suitable hollow trees and farm buildings
Avoid pesticide use that reduces invertebrate prey availability on farmland
Record little owl sightings through BTO Breeding Bird Survey and BirdTrack