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Agricultural Rodent Control Using Barn Owls: Is It Profitable?
Author(s) -
Kan Iddo,
Motro Yoav,
Horvitz Nir,
Kimhi Ayal,
Leshem Yossi,
Yom-Tov Yoram,
Nathan Ran
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.1093/ajae/aat097
Subject(s) - barn owl , barn , predation , profitability index , nesting (process) , agriculture , rodent , ecology , business , geography , biology , engineering , mechanical engineering , archaeology , finance
We develop a model to evaluate the profitability of controlling rodent damage by placing barn owl nesting boxes in agricultural areas. The model incorporates the spatial patterns of barn owl predation pressure on rodents, and the impact of this predation pressure on nesting choices and agricultural output. We apply the model to data collected in Israel and find the installation of nesting boxes profitable. While this finding indicates that economic policy instruments to enhance the adoption of this biological control method are redundant, it does support stricter regulations on rodent control using rodenticides.