You can go 20 feet up, but you can also go as low as 9 to 10 feet… 20 years of Wildlife Rehab working with hundreds of Screech Owls and I have seen so many natural no higher than 10 feet. Even 8 ft.
Oh hey, Danvers?! I’m in Saugus! What a small world! I have a few screech owls in my yard, just ordered a nesting box and I’m trying to decide where to put it!
I am not an expert but there are multiple sources online saying that squirrels will dissuade an owl from nesting in a box if it is previously occupied by squirrels. There are also RUclips videos of squirrels invading an owl house and attacking the owl quite viciously. There is one where the owl sustains an eye injury. If you are hanging an owl house you want to do everything you can to encourage the owls to move in. There are plenty of people who provide owl houses and never get a tenant. Sometimes they move in within days but it is common that it can take 4 years. The take home is do what you can to separate squirrels and other competitors from your chosen target resident. Personally, I like owls much more than squirrels.
You can go 20 feet up, but you can also go as low as 9 to 10 feet… 20 years of Wildlife Rehab working with hundreds of Screech Owls and I have seen so many natural no higher than 10 feet. Even 8 ft.
Oh hey, Danvers?! I’m in Saugus! What a small world! I have a few screech owls in my yard, just ordered a nesting box and I’m trying to decide where to put it!
I am not an expert but there are multiple sources online saying that squirrels will dissuade an owl from nesting in a box if it is previously occupied by squirrels. There are also RUclips videos of squirrels invading an owl house and attacking the owl quite viciously. There is one where the owl sustains an eye injury. If you are hanging an owl house you want to do everything you can to encourage the owls to move in. There are plenty of people who provide owl houses and never get a tenant. Sometimes they move in within days but it is common that it can take 4 years. The take home is do what you can to separate squirrels and other competitors from your chosen target resident. Personally, I like owls much more than squirrels.
Evict the squirrel must be a nice way of saying….dinner.
Thank you
Nice owl boxes. Where did you get them ?
How long does this take to work? I just hing this owl house.
Any luck?
John Sherrill No luck yet but the first season with a bird house is usually the toughest
natural methods like owl houses lol