The Analysis of Owl Pellets

Owls feed mainly on small mammals, swallowing their prey whole. The indigestible parts are regurgitated by the owl in the form of compact pellets which contain mammal skulls, bones and teeth, and invertebrate remains. Analysis of these pellets can be used to learn not only what the owl has eaten, but which small mammal species are present in the locality. Owl pellets are particularly useful for detecting the presence of less common species such as water shrew, dormouse and harvest mouse. This book describes how to dissect pellets, identification of skulls and other bones, estimating size and weight of prey, and gives examples of pellet analyses showing what can be learned from them.

A superb introductory guide to this fascinating aspect of mammal study.

Author: D W Yalden
Publisher: Mammal Society
Extra Details: Pictorial Card Covers 6 x 8 inches tall. Illustrated with B&W artworks throughout.NEW BOOK.