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Campus Owls Attack, Injure Student
'Children Had Been Harassing Them," Official Says
POSTED: 4:20 am MST December 6,
2008
UPDATED: 7:05 am MST December 6,
2008
MESA, Ariz. -- Arizona wildlife officials are investigating burrowing owls nesting near a Mesa junior high school after a student was reportedly attacked by one of the birds.
A dozen of the big-eyed, long-legged, small owls live on or near school grounds at Desert Ridge Junior High School and two that have burrowed underneath the school's marquee are affectionately named Hootie and the Blowfish.
"I enjoy seeing them and I think our employees enjoy seeing them," said Damian Fay, a school administrator.But several days ago, Bob Fox of Wild at Heart Wildlife Rescue was called to the campus after reports a child was attacked by one. Wild At Heart is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of Arizona's native wildlife through the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned birds of prey."The children had been harassing them," Fox said. "Not children at school, but an after-school group and one of them got scratched."There were no serious injuries. Burrowing owls stand about 9 inches tall and only grow to be up to 11 inches long. They can weigh up to 6 ounces. They are white to beige in color and have long, rounded wings.The owls have been known to chase, screech and even swoop at children when they feel threatened."I was riding my bike and they started going after me," said Matt Waun, a student at the school. "They look like angry chickens, basically."The Arizona Game and Fish Department said some populations of burrowing owls have declined and others have been rooted out from their habitats and destroyed completely throughout North America. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the western subspecies as a Species at Risk.As to why the owls chose to nest at the school, Fox said he has a theory."That area was a great habitat for them," he said. "It was built up recently. Owls like flat, open area like old agricultural land."The students said this week's attack leaves them more respectful of the birds."They should be our mascots," Waun said. "Unfortunately we're the rattlers, and they sometimes come around, too."
| READ: Migration Patterns Of Burrowing Owls |
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