Barn owls are natural predators of gophers, voles, and mice, three of the most common vertebrate pests in vineyards. Matt Johnson, Professor in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt University, studies how farms and wildlife can mutually benefit each other. Matt shares practical guidance on barn owl nest box design, placement, and maintenance, and explains how vineyard landscapes and surrounding habitat influence owl occupancy.

Resources:

272: 30 Gophers a Night: Why Barn Owls Belong in Your Vineyard
Barn Owl Hunting Animation – Yarrow from the Lodi Wine Visitor Center
Barn Owl Nest Box Placement and Maintenance
Barn Owl Nest Box Plans
Cal Poly Humboldt Barn Owls
Probability of Nest Box Occupancy by Barn Owls Map

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306: Using Barn Owls for Gopher and Rodent Control in Vineyards