Tribute to Our Great Horned Owl
Our cherished Great Horned owl passed in June 2022 due to renal failure. We estimate that she was in her late 30s at the time of her death. She came to our campus in 1994 as an adult owl with an eye injury, most likely caused by a car strike. Her damaged eye continued to worsen and eventually had to be removed in 2000, leaving her unable to return to the wild. She became an iconic part of our work and was admired by all who met her. She could be both gentle, and incredibly fierce. These traits combined with her strength made her a force to be respected and revered. Our staff will always remember her confidence, strength, and attitude.
During her time with us, she often laid an infertile egg at the holidays, which she dutifully tended to, leaving only when staff would relieve her so she could stretch and move around. It was amazing to watch this large and powerful beauty approach the egg, tuck her talons under, and rock back and forth into a position that allowed her to lower her mass onto the egg ever so carefully, aligning her brood patch for proper incubation.
She expressed herself often with her beautiful hoots and on many days, she would give us the morning report of all that transpired since we had left the day before. She was the matriarch of our animal family. As a guest favorite, she helped educate many people over the years. She had a dynamic stature and personality and made teaching guests about the ecological value and importance of owls easy. It’s impossible to forget an awe-inspiring encounter with her.
Rest easy, Flying Tiger, your work here is done. Our memories of you will always be grand.
