Advice on disecting owl pellets

[KentYeti]

Well, it was only going to be a matter of time until I got hold of some owl pellets to disect and photograph!

Thanks to a nice guy called Len that I spent a couple of hours with photograhing Short Eared Owls at Capel Fleet I've got a couple. I guess they are from SOE's as we picked then up from a place I regulary see them perching.

I know I could GOOGLE a bit and find out, but it may be more use to me and others to chat about it here?

So. How long do I let them dry out for before disecting please?

And any other tips much appreciated.

Cheers,

Bryan

[The Woodman]

Photograph them initially. Why not put them to soak when they're still wet in a mild bleach solution to kill any bugs. I put my pellets in a large bottle with the liquid level to the shoulder of the bottle. An aquarium air pump pushes air from a weighted delivery tube with the outlet at the bottom of the bottle causing the bubbles to rise, agitating the pellet and causing it to break up. I leave this running all day or overnight.

The result is the bones lie on the bottom of the bottle, the liquid hair and entrail soup can be poured off. Some times harder pellets need to be broken up by hand though.

I have a large box of Barn Owl pellets in the freezer for longer term use and to give away if someone wants some. Don't freeze them wet beacause mould will develop. Air dry them first.

[Acipiter]

You can if you wish just do what I do, just use a pair of tweezers and gently pull apart on a tray. Or you can soak them in a dish of water until they separate. Its a good idea to use a magnifying glass to identify the small bones.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I soak them in a water-filled takeaway tray and, when they are nice and sodden, teaze them apart with a pair of tweezers and a needle. Youc an remove the bones and place them on a sheet of kitchen towel to dry off.


Cheers,

Adam

[Gerel]

I was so glad that the word "pellets" appeared when I clicked on the title in the "New Wildlife Posts" column on the left.

Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with dissecting owls, but it's an unusual thing to be asking WABbers for advice on (perhaps a bit specialist).

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Gerel

I was so glad that the word "pellets" appeared when I clicked on the title in the "New Wildlife Posts" column on the left.

Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with dissecting owls, but it's an unusual thing to be asking WABbers for advice on (perhaps a bit specialist).

LOL!

With my growing love of owls the last thing I want top be doing is disecting them!

Anyway, some very helpful advice so far. Many thanks for that. Photos of intact pellets were taken last night, and done again today.

I've now immersed one in a jar of lightly bleached water as suggested.

I'll get some tweezers and pull it apart in a day or two.

Cheers,

Bryan

[KentYeti]

For day or two, read an hour or two!

The one immersed started to break up straight away. So I've taken it out and started to pull it apart with a couple of big needles. I'll get some tweezers in the morning.

Most obvious first finding from having done about 1/4 of it, is that there seem to be fur and bones from a small mammal. Plus a number of bits that are shiny black: from a beetle?

That later would explain some of the hunting I have observed. Regular quick dives into the grass, and a take off again within a few minutes. Presumably having caught and then eaten a beetle?

I know from watching them hunt in March/April this year that if they caught something large they would stay down for an hour or even two hours. The presumption was that they had caught something like a vole, of course it wasn't possible to be totally sure.

And, am I correct in assuming the thickish, matted dark substance is in fact the fur from it's prey? I can't think what else it can be.

Anyway. Taking a break now until I get tweezers tomorrow.

But I am finding this really interesting!

Any more help or comments very gratefully received.

Cheers,

Bryan

[actionfinch]

I disected my first pellet, months ago , using the tweezers method, but has given me ideas on how to clean the remains..

[The Woodman]

My only comment against the dry pellet dissection method is that spores can be released from dry fur and other remains and breathed in.

Once, whilst doing this in a pellet demo at Chester Zoo in full sunlight, I saw just how many fine particles were being released when pulling apart dry ones and I've done them wet ever since.

Even when in the freezer, pellets can grow an orangey coloured mould which I have the greatest respect for as I don't know what it is.

I've never fancied anthrax or anything else!