Observations on Small Mammals Recovered from Owl Pellets from Nebraska

Authors

Jeffrey J. Huebschman, University of Wisconsin-PlattevilleFollow
Hugh H. Genoways, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Patricia W. Freeman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Joseph A. Gubanyi, Concordia University, Seward, NEFollow

Date of this Version

December 2000

Comments

Published in The Prairie Naturalist: Quarterly Journal of Research on the Natural History of the North American Great Plains, vol. 32, no. 4 (December 2000), pp. 209-215. Used by permission.
Homepage = http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/pn/prairienat.htm

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.