Extra Large NW Barn Owl Pellets + Picks

By carefully examining the remains of what owls have eaten, one can gain insight into their behavior and environment in a hands-on manner. Not only does this provide valuable knowledge of the natural world, but it also serves as an enjoyable activity that can be shared among family members or friends! 

Sterilized barn owl pellets from Owl Brand Supply Company and Discovery Kits come in three sizes and from two regions of the United States, including SW US and NW US. Below is a description of the size ranges for both regions, which are also described in detail for each product. The general rule of thumb is that the larger the pellet, the more prey there is.

• Economy or Small -- 1.0" to 1.49". These pellets are terrific for young learners with tight budgets. They most often include a skull and a smaller selection of bones, and many teachers report filling out an entire bone chart.
• Standard or Medium—1.5" to 2.49". These pellets are the most commonly purchased and include 1-3 prey, almost always more than enough to fill out a bone chart or two. They can also include more than one prey type, as many teachers report finding a vole and a bird in one pellet.
• Premium or Jumbo -- 2.5" and larger. Premium pellets are a terrific choice for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is that the pellet is huge. We are surprised the owl survived gagging up this pellet sometimes! Because they are large, they will often include three or more prey. Moreover, because of that, a teacher can pair two students with one pellet to save money.

What’s the difference between pellets from the Northwest and the Southwest United States? In general, over 80% of the barn owl diet is voles. Each season greatly impacts the diet of all animals.

For barn owls, winter primarily narrows the prey to rodents and birds. This time of year presents the most minor variety of prey content.

As Spring unfolds, the animal kingdom follows suit with budding flowers and plant life and produces an abundance of smaller mammals, insects, and rodent populations. During that time of year, we will find fascinating and colorful exoskeletons of a variety of beetles, grasshoppers, ladybugs, and other insects in owl pellets.

This continues through the Summer months. Pellets gathered in the Summer months from all regions are probably the most diverse by our observation. As Spring-born mammals gain size, they become more common prey to other predators such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and raptors like the hawk and horned owl.

By Fall, many rivers and creek beds dry up in the Southwest and add crawfish to the diet of a barn owl. The owl has also been known to order a fresh entree of snakes, lizards, and even frogs — any night-active reptile is fair game.