1996 Photos, The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota

Great Gray Owl Invasion Minnesota
Minneapolis /St. Paul Metro Area

The Raptor Center has received an increased number of phone calls regarding sightings of great gray owls in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. We suspect the increased number of birds in this area is due to poor hunting conditions (deep snow cover with ice crust) in their normal winter range. Many birds even this far south have a difficult time finding enough food.
A concerned citizen contacted The Raptor Center regarding the condition of a great grey owl that had been in the same location for a number of days. The bird appeared to be strong and alert and it had accepted a mouse with hesitancy indicating that it was finding enough food on it own.

Great gray owl on mouse

• Can you find the great gray owl?
• The mouse
• The owl attacks
• The great gray owl watching its catch
• Carrying the mouse into the trees