An eco-friendly solution for rodent management

One of the biggest threats facing farmers is rodent infestations that cause crop losses equalling millions of rands every year. Cities are not immune to rodent infestations either.  The ideal, green solution to controlling rodent populations, both on the farm and in the city, is to install an owl house.


Explains Rod Cairns, managing director of JoJo Tanks, “Controlling rodents through the use of conventional methods, such as poisons, are not only costly but also have a huge negative impact on the planet and our eco-systems.  Poisons compromise the quality of crops, local water supplies and the population of desirable domesticated and wild animals and birds. The JoJo owl house offers both farmers and environmentally conscious urban dwellers a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to get rid of rats in a way that does not harm the planet.”

The Barn Owl particularly takes to owl boxes very readily. The good news is that it is also one of the most successful and widespread predators on earth and a single pair can consume over 2000 rodents a year. Barn owls are not as territorial as other raptors, so one can install numerous boxes throughout one’s property to effectively control the growing rodent population. The box is also suitable for Spotted Eagle-Owls. 

The JoJo Owl box is a roto-moulded seamless unit, ready for installation. The nifty doorstep in the entrance to the box ensures that the eggs and chicks remain safely inside.  Manufactured from a low-density polyethylene, it is ultraviolet (UV) stabilized to ensure durability in the harsh South African weather and like all other JoJo tanks products, it carries an 8-year warranty. In built up areas, the owl box should be erected against the south facing or southeast facing side of buildings, preferably under the overhang of the roof.

The JoJo owl box can be installed by:
1.      Attaching it to a wall
2.      Placing it on a pole (pole base plate included)
3.      Affixing it onto a flat surface by cutting off the pole base plate and levelling the bottom surface.

Guidelines to encourage raptors and owls in assisting with rodent management:
1.      It is advisable to have a cleared area of at least 2m wide around the field with perches erected within the area.
2.      Perches for raptors should be made of 3m x 50mm gum or poplar poles and be planted to have a height of 2.4m above the ground surface.  
3.      Perches for owls can be shorter – 1.6m x 30mm gum or poplar poles that are planted to a height of 1.4m.
4.      For both perches long sisal inflorescence stems may also be used to save on costs.
5.      No cross arms should be erected on perches as previous experience indicates that the birds prefer straight poles. Untreated wood is the best to use.
6.      To attract owls and diurnal raptors to the perches, it is advisable to scatter a few handfuls of crushed grain around the perches the late afternoon. Gerbils will soon discover the food and lure owls and raptors to the perches.
7.      It is advisable to removed barbed wire from fences where perches are erected in close proximity to fences as owls are often trapped by barbs when they try and perch on fences, This is particularly true for marsh owls, barn owls and spotted eagle-owls.

For more information, www.jojotanks.co.za or contact Pieter du Plessis on 012 802 1214/5 or e-mail Pieter@jojotanks.co.za. 

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