in full.
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Great-horned Owl Rescued
Picture (Device Independent Bitmap)
On Oct. 8 2008, site management, facilities maintenance, grounds
maintenance, site ES&H and the World Bird Sanctuary worked together to
swiftly rescue a great-horned owl that had become trapped inside a
boxed-in area near the entrance to R building.
The owl had apparently entered this area while hunting pigeons at night
and could not get back out on its own. A large lift was employed to
reach the area to remove a soffit so that Roger Holloway of the World
Bird Sanctuary could capture and examine the owl.
This owl is named for its great size and "horns" or feathered tufts
atop its head. Great-horned owls are fierce predators with a sharp,
powerful beak and slashing talons. A full-face shield and leather
gloves were worn by Holloway to protect against these sharp
armaments. These precautions were considered necessary, but the
deftness and skill with which Holloway handled the owl were absolutely
remarkable.
The owl was captured quickly and seemed to know instinctively that
Holloway had the bird's best interest at heart. The owl lay like a
baby in Holloway's hands. The small impromptu crowd which gathered was
thrilled with the rescue and transfixed by close-up looks into the
owl's piercing yellow eyes. The examination showed the bird was
uninjured and in good health. The owl was taken to the nearby campus
woods and released. Great-horned owls are resident on the Creve Coeur
campus and have been known to nest here.
Site wildlife team member Ashley Alvarado had this to say about the
rescue: "You know, if there is a place for a bird to get trapped, it's
Monsanto. I knew without a doubt, that owl would be safe, protected, and
have medical attention within hours. Just shortly after he/she was
discovered, the area was roped off, secured and help was on its way.
I'm so proud to work at Monsanto, not because we have great benefits,
a charismatic and likeable CEO, the smartest folks around, the week off
between Christmas and New Year's, but because I know, that if a
creature of any kind was to get trapped, or injured, we would drop
everything to see that it was tended to."
J~
Wondering all this deaf world are so small and cherish for each
others...
