Wildlife

Long-Eared Owl: Secretive Forest Owl Needs Protection

Long-eared owls are highly secretive and poorly surveyed but face habitat loss from forest management.

Key Facts

Long-eared owls are thought to breed in low numbers in Britain perhaps 1,000 to 4,000 pairs
They roost communally in winter sometimes with numbers of 50 or more birds
Long-eared owls hunt in open habitats but nest in dense conifer or scrub patches
They reuse nests built by other species particularly crows
Winter influxes of continental birds augment the resident population

Welfare Considerations

Long-eared owls face welfare challenges from forest clearance that removes nesting habitat. Their secretive nature means population trends are poorly known making welfare assessment difficult. Secondary rodenticide poisoning from eating contaminated voles and mice causes internal haemorrhage. Communal winter roosts can be disturbed by birdwatchers causing energy waste and stress.

What You Can Do

Maintain dense scrub and conifer patches adjacent to open hunting habitat
Minimise disturbance at known long-eared owl roost sites in winter
Report rodenticide poisoning deaths to national monitoring schemes
Support improved monitoring of long-eared owl populations to better understand threats
Oppose dense forest clearance in areas supporting long-eared owl breeding