In science class, we are dissecting owl pellets from a barn owl. Owl pellets, although many people mistake them for feces or vomit, are regurgitated matter which an owl can't digest. This includes the bones and fur or feathers of the animals that the owl ingested. The prey of barn owls is mostly vertebrates, or a group of animals characterized by a segmented spinal column and a well differentiated head. Rodents seem to be the most popular kind of prey for a barn owl. Though barn owls aren't picky eaters-- they eat practically anything they can get to that's more than a beakful. So far, my partner and I have found two rodent skulls, a rib, and a bone we have not yet identified. I think that this assignment is educational and unique, and helps students both learn and better understand predators and prey.
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