Observations on Small Mammals Recovered from Owl Pellets from Nebraska

Authors

Jeffrey J. Huebschman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Patricia W. Freeman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Hugh H. Genoways, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jospeh A. Gubanyi, Concordia UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2001

Comments

Published in The Prairie Naturalist 32(4): December 2000. Published by the Great Plains Natural Science Society http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/pn/prairienat.htm Used by permission.

Abstract

Mammalian remains from owl pellet material collected in 24 Nebraska counties were examined, A total of 1262 individual mammals was identified from all owl pellet material and included 19 identifiable species and 21 total genera. The most commonly consumed prey by owls across the state were Microtus (41 % of identifiable prey material), followed by Peromyscus (18%), and Reithrodontomys (11%). Significant locality information for the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), and the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are reported