Thursday, February 14, 2008

These pictures do not do this beautiful owl justice. He is soooo special. When I got home from the Dr's today I noticed this owl laying dead on the road in front of our house. I eased him off the road onto the berm. He had just been killed I think, he was still soft, and his feathers were softer than anything I could imagine. I called a taxidermist and he said owls were protected by federal government and you were not allowed perhaps even to touch them! (This after I had carefully carried him up to the house on a shovel!). I called the Game Commision and they confirmed that owls were protected by federal government and could not be 'stuffed', so said the man that took my call . Then he said that we could pick it up and put it in a garbage bag for our garbage man! This beautiful creature should be preserved. The taxidermy man said to find a owl is rare. Sometimes....a permit might be issued to preserve such an owl for a museum or school. I asked out of curiosity how much it might be for a taxidermist to 'do' an owl. Would you believe $350? I wish I could share the beauty of this owl...the eye was beauty beyond description. I spent over an hour trying to find out what kind of owl this is. My best guess might be a small horned owl. They are active in the daytime and it would be a good guess that as it flew, it came in contact with a vehicle.

5 comments:

sparrow's song said...

This owl is exquisite.

I think I can understand that if they allow a stuffing, malicious individuals might seek to harm an owl just so they can get it stuffed and then sell it. A law against a stuffing hinders those individuals who seek a profit. The love of money being the root of all evil.

As you saw the dead owl on the side of the road, I saw a dead cat and wondered whose pet it once was. So very sad. I'm not a 'tree hugger' but I do agree with being good stewards of God's creation.

sparrow's song said...

At first glance, my daughter thought it was a ground or burrowing owl but I pointed out that this one you've shown has ear tuffs. So my good guess would be a young screech owl of sorts. Simply gorgeous!!

Gina E. said...

Dear MaggieAnn, you are so sweet and soft hearted - I always warm to people who will rescue not just an injured creature, but also a dead one, to preserve its dignity even in death. Ken and I are the same; we will never leave a dead animal lying on the road to be run over again and again.
I did wonder why your government would not allow people to have protected species professionally mounted, so thank you Sparrow's Song for explaining. That makes a lot of sense. But I wouldn't put the owl in a garbage bag...how awful. Ken and I would have a little funeral, put it in a box and bury it somewhere on our property.

Mrs. Mac said...

Dear Maggie Ann ... I have not been by your blog for some time and thought I'd better pay you a little visit. Your such a gal for getting the beautiful owl cared for after his demise. So how long will your yarn spinner take a rest? You are very multi-talented and are always putting something beautiful together. Hope you are anticipating spring as much as I am ;)

Anonymous said...

The little owl is beautiful. It isn't often one gets to examin an owl close up. It's only too bad one has to die before we can see it. I took a picture once of a great horned owl and after the picture was developed we seen where the feet over the limb it was sitting on had feathers that were patterned like another set of eyes. No doubt to confuse anything that would prey on it or maybe the little creature it catches. Our God thought of everything when he created the birds and the whole world. I love wildlife of any kind and can't learn enough about it. a friend, gramma_s