Long-eared owl

The long-eared owl (Asio otus) belongs to the order Strigiformes and the family Strigidae. It is a strictly carnivorous predator that serves as an essential component of integrated pest management in agricultural landscapes. While not a pest of crops themselves, their ecological role is vital for maintaining the balance between natural predators and crop-destroying mammals.

The owl does not cause damage to crops; instead, it prevents damage to a wide range of cultures, including cereals, legumes, and industrial crops. Their primary diet consists of small rodents, particularly voles, which are notorious for destroying roots and stems of plants, thus reducing yield quantity and quality significantly.

The biology of the species is characterized by nocturnal hunting patterns, allowing them to exert pressure on rodent populations when they are most active. Long-eared owls often utilize pre-existing nests in trees near field margins or windbreaks. Their reproductive cycle is highly synchronized with the availability of prey, ensuring peak population density during the most sensitive agricultural stages.

Harmfulness is non-existent; however, the indirect impact of agricultural practices can be detrimental. The use of toxic rodenticides poses a severe risk of secondary poisoning to owls. When these apex predators are removed from the food chain, rodent populations proliferate, leading to uncontrolled damage to crops that requires more extensive chemical intervention.

Effective protection measures within an agricultural context focus on conservation rather than eradication:

• Preservation of hedgerows and mature tree stands as nesting habitats.
• Reduction of broad-spectrum rodenticide use in favor of habitat management.
• Promotion of nesting sites, such as artificial structures, in areas with high rodent activity.