Hermosa 4th-Graders Dissect Owl Pellets

Deb Smith's class of 29 4th-Graders were invited to a special wildlife class on Monday, May 6th, taught by environmental educator Julie Brazell, held in the Hermosa Town Office lower-level meeting room, where the children learned about great horned owls-- a local native species.

The class did some hands-on research by dissecting regurgitated owl pellets and making notes on the animal species eaten by the owls. Julie Brazell helped the class identify the bones and teeth found. The class was able to identify small rodents, a rabbit, and a skunk.

When an owl eats a small mammal or bird, some parts of the meal-- such as bones, claws, teeth, hair, and feathers-- are not able to be digested. That material is compacted in the gizzard and the dry pellet is spit out by the owl.

See photos on our 2019 Events page of this website.

Thanks to HAHA volunteer Candice Leigh, for coordinating this class and taking the photos. And to HAHA volunteer Linda M. Hasselstrom, for supplying a big box of owl pellets from her ranch, where a healthy pair of great horned owls keeps the pest species in check.

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