Owl Identification

Send us your samples!

There are five species of owl which breed regularly within the UK, some of which are facing conservation challenges such as habitat loss and declining prey populations. Several of these species are high-priority for conservation efforts. At Ecotype Genetics, we help support the monitoring of these species through our genetic identification services.

What we offer:

DNA extraction from field samples such as owl pellets and feathers

Accurate and reliable genetic identification of all UK owl species

Discounted pricing for non-profit organisations.

Pricing

Prices below are per sample and shown exclusive of VAT at 20%. Bulk discounts are not applicable to non-profit samples.

Standard price: £55
Non-profit price: £35

Bulk Discounts:

10% discount (6-14 samples)
25% discount (15+ samples)

FAQs

Unfortunately, on the rare occasion, orders have been lost in the postal system. Ecotype Genetics cannot take any responsibility for your sample if this occurs. We will refund your purchase if your sample is misplaced and you cannot send us any more.

You may wish to send your sample via a special delivery or recorded service and, if necessary, arrange insurance to cover costs for obtaining and sending a replacement sample.

We also recommend to retain some of the sample, if possible, in the rare case your sample gets lost. Then you can easily send us another batch if it doesn't arrive.

- The best containers to use for small mammal samples are small (1.5-2ml) plastic micro-centrifuge tubes - readily available on amazon.

- Please do NOT use a glass container to send droppings.

- Samples MUST be individually marked with their unique 'Sample ID', provided in the order confirmation email. Without this, they will not be processed.

- The safest way to send your samples is in a robust padded envelope. Please make sure you affix the correct postage as they are likely to be classed as large letters. Packages with insufficient postage are held by the courier and will not be delivered to the lab.

Our success rate is very high, and it is rare to receive no result on a sample. However, in these circumstances it is not always possible to know why a particular sample has failed. The most likely reasons are as follows:

- There was insufficient or inadequate quality DNA in the sample to provide a positive identification. The latter may be caused by degradation of the DNA due to prolonged exposure to environmental elements.

- The sample contained inhibitory compounds that prevented the PCR reaction from working, and despite our best efforts, were unable to be separated from the genetic material.

- The sample was not from the target species group, meaning it could not be identified (although we will always endeavour to identify species wherever possible).

If the tests fails, the charge for the analysis is non-refundable. This is due to the costs incurred by Ecotype Genetics to process the sample; including labour, laboratory consumables etc. For more information see our Terms and Conditions.