Mary Allen
In harsh winters, owls often need extra food. But what do owls actually eat? Find out here what food owls like and how you can help the animals through the winter.
What do owls eat and how do they hunt?
Even if they don’t look like it at first glance, owls are real birds of prey. This is also reflected in their diet. Owls only eat living food. They are not fixed on specific animals. Small mammals such as squirrels, mice, rabbits, and hedgehogs are high on the menu, but insects, worms, fish, snakes, and bats can also be eaten.
Depending on the species of owl, the size of the prey is relevant. Smaller species have poor chances with rabbits, for example. Large owl species, on the other hand, do not shy away from looking at smaller owls as food. Owls mainly hunt from the air, but some species are also extremely talented on the ground.
Winter feeding: what do owls eat when there is a lack of food?
If you want to provide the birds with food in winter, this is usually difficult because they do not accept meat that is laid out. To feed them, you would have to introduce live mice or other small mammals.
For example, you can lure mice into the garden with leftover bread and grain and make them comfortable with a little straw. However, before you start introducing prey to your property, you should find out from a bird sanctuary whether there are already feeding stations.