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Giving A Hoot About Saving Baby Owls

DENVER (CBS4) - Who gives a hoot about saving baby owls?

A wildlife officer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife does. Last week in Southeastern Colorado, Aaron Bartleson rescued six baby barn owls -- also called owlets -- after several days of observation.

Bartleson said it was clear the owlets' parents had abandoned the clutch in a dilapidated building due to a construction project nearby. Volunteers helped secure and transport the birds to the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, where they will be cared for over the next several weeks with minimal human contact.

When the owls reach maturity, they will be released in the wild in the same vicinity.

The barn owl is the most distributed owl species and one of the most widespread of all birds, Parks and Wildlife said.

Baby Owls
The baby owls in a transport crate (credit: Colorado Parks And Wildlife)
Baby Owls
A Parks and Wildlife officer holds one of the owls. (credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

Also getting a wing up this week was a pelican that was rehabilitated by the Wild B.I.R.D rescue group in Denver.

The bird, which was shot and hurt its leg when it fell from the sky, was released at Cherry Creek State Park after six weeks of rehab.

Pelican
(credit: CBS)
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