What's For Dinner?
Talon
Owls are predators, which means they are also carnivores. They eat many different kinds of prey depending upon their own size. Small owls such as Pygmy owls and saw-whet owls are small, so they usually hunt for large insects and small rodents like shrews and mice.
Owls pretty much eat whatever they can get their talons on. But their most common prey are small rodents such as mice and voles. These little mammals are important food sources for many animals. And that's a good thing, since they can be serious pests for people.
Larger owls also capture bigger prey like voles, woodrats, rabbits and squirrels. Great horned owls will even catch and eat skunks — yes, skunks! Other owl prey includes scorpions, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, birds, bats and even fish.