As a homeowner, keeping your lawn tidy is likely one of your weekly chores. So, when you spot pesky critters like spiders, bugs, or small rodents hanging around, you start thinking of ways to get rid of them. But instead of using harsh chemicals, why not let owls take care of it? These amazing birds love to feast on mice, voles, spiders, and other little creatures that can wreak havoc in your yard. The key is to make some adjustments to your lawn care routine to attract these nocturnal hunters. The trick is to let your lawn get a little wild and overgrown. While letting your yard go a little crazy might not be your typical lawn care approach, it actually works great for drawing in those raptors. Owls are unique birds – they’re active at night because their eyes are adapted to low light. So, you’ll also want to keep outdoor lighting off at night, as that can scare them away. Owls prefer hunting at night to avoid competition from other birds. And an unkempt yard provides the perfect hunting ground for them.
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Going longer between mowing the lawn helps to attract owls
irinacapel/Shutterstock Letting your lawn go a little longer between mowings will make it look more like a natural hunting ground for owls. We’re talking tall grass, overgrown bushes, piles of dead leaves and twigs, and big unmowed sections. When the owls see this kind of “unkempt” yard, they’ll know there’s plenty of food for them – mice, voles, and other tasty critters that owls love to hunt.
So, if you normally mow your lawn every week, try doing it every two or three weeks instead. This will let the grass and weeds grow a little longer. And leave those shrubs and trees alone too – owls love to perch in those areas for camouflage during the day. If you have a dead tree on your property, an owl might even decide to nest there.
If you can’t let your whole yard go wild, you can just leave one section unmowed. After trimming and raking the rest of your outdoor space, gather up the clippings and leaf litter into a nice big pile in a corner or at the edge. The owls will be drawn to that pile to hunt for the little critters hiding under it.
