Wildlife

Wild Barn Owl Winter Food Supply

Barn owls are highly vulnerable to winter food shortages that cause mortality and welfare compromise in cold, prolonged winters.

Key Facts

Barn owls rely almost entirely on field voles and common shrews as prey
Snow and ice cover make prey inaccessible and cause owls to starve within days
A barn owl can lose 20 percent of body weight in a single cold night
Nest box programs improve survival by providing daytime roost shelter
Vole population cycles of 3 to 4 years strongly influence owl breeding success

Welfare Considerations

Barn owls in winter suffer from acute starvation risk during cold snaps. Their specialized hunting relies on hearing and low-level flight, both compromised by frozen ground cover.

What You Can Do

Install barn owl nest boxes to provide shelter and nesting habitat
Support organizations that provide supplementary feeding during severe winters
Avoid rodenticide use that reduces prey availability and poisons owls