Free. Best for elementary students and older. Registration is required: https://masonpl.libcal.com/event/12784354

Registration for the OWL PELLET dissection kit is required. PLEASE REGISTER ONLY FOR THE NUMBER OF KITS YOU NEED, not the number of people participating. For example, a parent assisting one child should only register ONCE for one kit. A family with two people who each need kits should register two people. A family of five who wants to dissect one kit together should register only ONE person.

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Contrary to what kids might think, pellets are puke, not poop! Owls generally swallow their prey whole but are unable to digest certain parts such as bones, teeth, and fur. The owl’s gizzard packs the undigested parts into a ball called a “pellet” that they spit, or cast, back up. Owls generally cast about two pellets a day. These pellets come from the owls at Raptor, Inc.

Pellets are a record of what owls have eaten, and scientists can study them to learn more about the owl and the ecosystems in which they live. When kids dissect an owl pellet from the owls at Raptor, Inc., they can see and identify the tiny bones from that owl’s meal, can learn about the owl’s diet and place in the food web. 

Each kit contains a ziplock bag, 1 owl pellet, a pair of gloves, 2 toothpicks, and 5 handouts as well as a pair of plastic tweezers. We recommend dissecting the pellet on a paper plate to keep any messiness contained. Younger children, especially prereaders, may need assistance. Best for elementary students and older.

RAPTOR Inc. is a volunteer-driven nonprofit located in Milford that has been serving the Greater Cincinnati area for over 40 years, treating injured and orphaned raptors, and providing educational programs with live birds of prey. They hold monthly free Open Houses: https://www.raptorinc.org/education/on-site-programs/monthly-open-houses/.

https://www.raptorinc.org

You must pick up your kit from Mason Public Library September 9-14th. Pickup hours are listed below. On September 16th, any remaining kits will be made available to anyone, first come, first served.
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We also invite you to attend our Owl Open House on Wednesday, September 18 4-8 p.m.: