Raptors in the News: Owl Bounty

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a good example of why the RMRP and I have dedicated so much of our lives to educating Humans about birds of prey and conservation: 1941 Owl Bounty. In Canada in 1941, there were bounties for trapping the "killer class" of Owls because they were eating the local game birds that Humans wanted to shoot and eat.


The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program's mission statement is to inspire the protection and appreciation of raptors and the wild spaces in which they live through excellence in rehabilitation, education and research. The "education" part is where I come in, visiting schools and public events all year round to show people how awesome I am, while the Humans talk about things like how important my niche is in the ecosystem, why it's important to protect wildlife, and how awesome I am.

Just think: if organizations such as the RMRP never had the realization that educating the public about raptors and conservation could save lives and help keep our ecosystems healthy...well, Humans might still be trapping Snowy Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Arctic Horned Owls* for money, simply because they didn't know there was a better way.

Three cheers for education!!


*I had to look this one up: apparently an Arctic Horned Owl is a color variation of the Great Horned Owl; in 1941 it was thought to be a separate species entirely.