Barn Owls are somewhat unique in that they are distinctive in appearance and coloration. These owls have a pale-to-almost-white coloration, are a medium sized owl with no ear-tufts, and a heart-shaped face. They are primarily nocturnal hunters but you may see them at dusk or dawn. Unless a family has taken up residence in your immediate area, you may never see them anywhere but at the Desert Museum or you may inadvertently discover young, as those pictured here were found, in a nest built in hay. (As their name suggests, Barn Owls are found to frequent hay barns, church steeples and places that offer good protection.)
The Barn Owls you are seeing here were found as juveniles in a load of hay that was delivered to a local feed store and, needless to say, as the hay was being unloaded, the feed store staff was quite surprised.
The Barn Owls were fairly young and unable to survive on their own but were safe and protected where the nest was built. However, when the hay was moved, they were exposed to a life without adequate feeding or a chance, on their own, to survive.
In this instance, their survival is a great success story. They were taken to a rehab center where these pictures were taken. While they have been raised from juveniles to almost adults, the process of humanely caring for them has prepared them for release back into a life on their own without domesticating them. I have been following their growth and maturation process for weeks and I can tell you this is a good example of animals becoming orphans, through a fluke in their normal habitat being moved during their time in their nest, but being rescued and carefully nursed correctly. Volunteering at a rehabber's facility and helping care for these Barn Owls and the rest of the animals, is but one example of why 1st Response Wildlife does what we do and also highlights why, as a standard business practice, I feel so strongly that understanding the animals we have, here in the Sonoran Desert, and helping, when we can, give back to the community by bringing hurt or orphaned animals to and also volunteering, as often as I can is a fundamental part of what 1st Response Wildlife 520-260-9517 is all about.
(As a side note, rehabbers, in general, are 100% non-profit organizations which serves the greater Tucson area by accepting and rehabbing sick, hurt, and orphaned animals. Any donations contributed to this important work goes directly to the care, feeding, and rehab of animals. If you would like to contribute monetarily, you can do this on line at their web page or in person. From time to time, The Desert Museum will also accept orphaned animals, as will a few rehabbers up in Phoenix.)
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, squirrels (ardilla) , coatimundi (gato solo), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
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