Great Plains Zoo Releases Rehabilitated Owls
by Joel Young, Meteorologist/Reporter
October 23, 2012 6:34 PM
During the summer, the Great Plains Zoo received two owls requiring special attention before they could survive in the wild on their own.
Tuesday morning, both of these owls had fully recovered and were released at Blood Run Nature Area just south of Sioux Falls.
This was a fulfilling day for the animal care specialists and zoo veterinarians who worked to bring these owls back to health.
“We work to keep wildlife wild, so when we have animals that we can heal and can actually help get back into the wild where they belong, that’s what we want to do,” says Elizabeth Whealy, President and CEO of the Great Plains Zoo.
The Eastern Screech owl, which survived an eye injury, was released first; then followed by the Great Horned owl, which had to be flight trained after being separated from its mother.
