About Carmel Owls
At Carmel Owls, founded in November 2025, we believe there’s a better way to help our community manage rodents on the Monterey Peninsula—one that protects wildlife, pets, and the broader ecosystem.
While rats and other rodents are a common challenge in our healthy forest environment, conventional rodent control often relies on poisons (rodenticides) that carry tragic consequences. These toxic baits don’t just affect rats; they move up the food chain and unintentionally poison non-target animals like cats, native raptors, bobcats, and other wildlife.
Instead of perpetuating this harmful cycle, Carmel Owls’ volunteers are committed to supporting natural predation by encouraging nesting by Great Horned Owls—a powerful, local predator that helps keep rodent populations in check without poison.
To ensure every installation is conducted with the highest level of safety and professionalism, our dedicated foreman focuses exclusively on the precise deployment of the self-leveling, outrigger-stabilized cherry picker, working in close coordination with the bucket operator throughout each lift.
Meanwhile, our photographers and drone operator document the full scope of every platform installation—capturing both the technical process and the broader habitat impact from the ground and sky.
Volunteers collecting Spanish moss, twigs and leaves for nesting material
Phase 2 pre-deployment meeting
Carmel Owls is a volunteer organization dedicated to Great Horned Owl conservation on the Monterey Peninsula through installing nesting platforms, championing rodenticide reduction, and ensuring lasting stewardship of our shared ecosystem.
Mission Statement
Rodenticide vs Natural Predation
Our work is truly community-powered. Volunteers research, design, and build custom redwood owl nesting platforms from recycled and carefully sourced materials.
They help canvass neighborhoods to identify ideal tall trees free of power lines, craft and laser-etch platform plaques, and coordinate all aspects of safe installation—including traffic control, cherry picker operation, road safety crews, and protective gear such as fluorescent vests and helmets.
Nesting Platforms
Behind the scenes, volunteers also power our outreach and education efforts. We build and maintain our website, produce email newsletters, design informational flyers, assemble short educational PSA videos, and manage social media outreach—primarily through Nextdoor, Instagram, and Facebook.
Our team also proactively engages local media outlets, including the Carmel Pine Cone, KSBW TV, NPR, and the Monterey County Weekly, to raise awareness of poison-free rodent control and the vital importance of protecting non-target wildlife.
