Wildlife

Wild Long-eared Owl Welfare

Long-eared owls are secretive woodland owls whose welfare depends on woodland edge habitats with rough grassland, and whose population status is poorly understood.

Key Facts

Long-eared owls breed in dense woodland or scrub but hunt in open rough grassland
UK breeding populations are estimated at 1,000-3,500 pairs but surveys are very incomplete
Winter roosts of multiple individuals in dense scrub are the best population monitoring opportunity
They feed primarily on field voles, making them sensitive to vole population cycles
Long-eared owls are largely silent outside the breeding season, making detection difficult

Welfare Considerations

Long-eared owl welfare is linked to the availability of woodland edge and rough grassland hunting habitat. Maintaining this habitat mosaic and reducing rodenticide use are the most impactful welfare actions.

What You Can Do

Report long-eared owl sightings to your local wildlife trust and BTO
Maintain rough grassland edges adjacent to scrub and woodland to support owl hunting habitat
Avoid rodenticide use near known long-eared owl territories