Elizabeth Drake
Dietary Habits of the Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus)
BSES Senior Research 2003

This is a comparative study of the dietary intake habits of the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) during the winters of 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. Owl pellet samples were collected from roosting sites of at least eight owls during the winter of 1999-2000 and of at least two owls during the winter of 2001-2002 at the Newport Chemical Depot, Vermillion County, Indiana. Skeletal remains found in the pellets were identified to family by appendages and dental patterns and genus and species by dental patterns. This data was later compared to data from a distribution and abundance study of mammals in the Newport Chemical Depot, Vermillion County, Indiana. In both set of pellets a range of mice, shrew, voles, and a single bird were found.