Known for being voracious nighttime feeders, barn owls are typically either reddish brown or white. Feeding almost exclusively on voles, mice and other rodents, barn owls are among the most effective methods of biological pest control.

On moonlit nights, you may think white barn owls would suffer from empty stomachs because of the less effective camouflage. However, a new study from the University of Lausanne has proven white barn owls thrive as hunters when the moon is bright.

The reason comes down to the reaction of their prey.

Voles, in particular, react in one of two ways when they see an owl swooping in for the kill. They either freeze in hopes the owl doesn’t see them, or they run.

When the moon is bright, the study showed voles most likely resemble deer caught in headlights when they see a white barn owl. They freeze in place for a full five seconds longer than when they see a reddish brown barn owl.

For the study, researchers flew taxidermied owls on a wire towards voles.

It’s believed the light reflected from the feathers of the white owls makes the voles’ natural aversion to bright light even worse – stunning them and freezing them in place.

Barn Owls: Highly Effective Pest Killing Machines
Increasingly more property owners are realizing that barn owls, whether white or reddish brown, are the most effective method of pest control.

The old method of using poison to control rodents is no longer advised for a host of reasons. Poison takes days to have an effect on the rodent, and if a cat, dog or other animal finds the rodent beforehand, it ingests the poison as well.

The most effective way for getting barn owls to protect your land from rodents is to install a specially designed barn owl box – preferably several in different locations.

The barn owl boxes can be tree or pole mounted.

Positioning of the barn owl box is everything. While the entry hole can face either north, south or east, a westward direction should be avoided because of the heat generated by the afternoon sun.

Order Your Expertly-Crafted Barn Owl Box
Tom Stephan is a master falconer who has studied barn owls for much of his life. His personally crafted barn owl boxes are custom-built and can be equipped with night-vision video cameras, so that you get an up close and personal experience with this incredible creation of nature.

To select the right barn owl house for you, visit https://barnowlboxes.com/.