Wildlife

Little Owl Welfare on UK Farmland

Little owls are a naturalized UK species experiencing significant population decline, linked to loss of old pastures, rough grassland, and prey availability.

Key Facts

Little owls were introduced to Britain in the 19th century and are now naturalized
Their population has declined by around 62% since 1970 in the UK
They depend on permanent pasture and rough grassland for prey including earthworms
Loss of old orchards has removed important nesting and hunting habitat
They are resident birds maintaining year-round territories on farmland

Welfare Considerations

Loss of earthworm-rich permanent pasture reduces primary prey availability causing nutritional stress. Pesticide reduction of invertebrate prey affects chick feeding. Nest site loss from orchard removal causes breeding failure. Road mortality affects individuals in areas with high traffic density. Cold wet springs reduce invertebrate activity causing chick starvation.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes maintaining permanent pasture for little owls
Donate to little owl monitoring programs
Advocate for old orchard preservation policies
Support pesticide reduction programs protecting farmland invertebrates
Engage with landowners on nestbox provision for little owls