Dissecting an owl pellet provides a fascinating insight into the secretive lives of owls. As birds of prey, owls will often swallow their prey whole, but parts of their prey – such as the fur and bones – can’t be digested. It’s these indigestible parts that get clumped together into a pellet and regurgitated (coughed up). By finding these pellets and looking at what’s inside them, you can work out what your local owls have been eating!
Click on the follow images to find out more about the owl species!
What you will need:
- An owl pellet
- Tweezers (optional)
- Cocktail sticks or a needle pushed into a cork (optional)
- A tray
- A magnifying glass (optional)
- Plain paper
- Water
How to dissect your owl pellet:
Watch our video to find out how to dissect your pellet. You can also download the activity guide below.
Let us know how you get on using #DiscoverLearnPlay
