This is Otis the Owl! He loves to hoot and even makes other silly sounds whenever it is feeding time.
Otis is a Great Horned Owl. He was brought into MRWC in 2003 after being found alone, cold, and on the ground. No nest or family could be found. Unlike other orphans that we receive that are placed into foster families, Otis was chosen to be kept as an education owl. As he was raised with people instead of owls, he is now human imprinted - he thinks he is a person! He is not a pet however, but an educator, and has taken part in hundreds of presentations.
Otis is a boy and weighs 2.5 lbs. He could live to 40 years. Great Horned Owls are our Provincial Bird and are the most commonly seen owl in Alberta. They are named for their ear tufts (not actually ears). They eat rodents, hares, skunks, bats, and even other birds. These owls stay with the same mate for life and remain in a single territory. They see well in low light but rely mainly on their sense of hearing. The name “Otis" means "one who hears well”.