Authorities Recruit "Owl Flying Squad" To Combat Rodent Problem

[matcom]

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AN Indonesian province is forming an owl "flying squad" to combat crop-eating rodents, a report said.

Authorities in Bengkulu on Sumatra island have provided owls to two villages with satisfactory results, the Jakarta Post said.

"The rodents almost disappeared from the two villages after the owls were released there," said local agricultural office director Mangsury Thaib.

Thaib said one owl could kill at least 100 rodents a day and he hoped farmers would lose their traditional fear of the birds and use them for pest control.

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