Anyone ever put up an owl box close to their orchard to rodent control? I just put up two yesterday for the Barred owl. There is an owl called the Barn owl too, which is great for rodent control but in Connecticut they are in very low numbers. There is a difference in the size of their entrance holes so just an FYI. The reason I put up a couple is because I read online some orchards use them for voles/mice etc..I also put aluminum flashing ( two 20 inch pieces ) wrapped around the bottom of the tree about 5-6 ft off the ground and the same above the nest box, but about 8 ft above it. This was to prevent the squirrels and raccoons from getting to the nest , but we know they will still find a way. The squirrels are going to jump from the surrounding branches of other trees, but I tried. The boxes should be out by January so I’m a bit early . If they don’t work for the rodents, I at least hope to attract the owls and give them a nice nesting place. The Barred owl boxes should be about a 1/2 mile apart but mine are about 500 yards.