The studies were performed in the period 2008-2015 in orchards from the central part of the Republic of Moldova and Bacău County, Romania. In both areas 12 species rodent were registered, of which in central Moldova orchards the species R. norvegicus and P. subterraneus were not registered, while in Bacau orchards the species A. uralensis, M. rossiaemeridionalis and D. nitedula weren’t recorded. In CM orchards the dominant species was M. rossiaemeridionalis with about 30%, followed by A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis. In BC orchards the dominant species was A. flavicollis with more that 41%, followed by A. sylvaticus and M. arvalis.The analysis of demographic structure in spring period showed a high proportion of reproductive females in all species, being the highest at M. rossiaemeridionalis in CM orchard and in A. flavicollis in BC orchard. The share of young individuals constituted up to 40% depending on the species being the highest at M. rossiaemeridionalis in CM orchard and in A. flavicollis in BC orchard. A significant difference in the area of the individual sectors of M.rossiaemeridionalis males and females in the orchard in summer (t = 3.46) and autumn (t = 3.39) was established, as well as for A. sylvaticus in the spring and summer period (t = 2.06; 2.03), and for A.uralensis in spring and autumn (t = 2.99; 3.44).

Introduction. Many rodent species are important pests for agriculture and for urban areas. The long-eared owl is a predator that exerts constant pressure on rodent density. Material and methods. The studies were performed in winters of 2011-2013 in the cities of Chisinau and Bacau, where 599 and 82 pellets of Asio otus were collected, respectively. The prey items were identified from cranial bones extracted from pellets. Results. Long-eared owl's diet in both sites consists of mammals and birds, with rodents being the dominant trophic component. The Microtus species were the main prey with the abundance ≥70% in both sites. In Chisinau a high proportion of Mus species was registered in the diet. The total biomass of prey constituted 43 953 g in Chisinau and 7 038 in Bacau. The highest biomass belongs to Microtus species, with 31 710 g and 5 220 g, respectively. The trophic niche width in Chisinau constituted 0.089 and varied monthly from 0.058 to 0.28. In Bacau the WTNs was of 0.134 and varied slightly among the study months. Conclusions. The rodents were the main trophic source and constituted ≥96% in both sites. The prey diversity was higher in Chisinau, that was due to a larger city territory and to a higher number of wintering long-eared owls. The close values of trophic niche width in Chisinau and Bacau confirmed the high hunting specialization of the long-eared owl.

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