Give a Hoot Fund

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Sue Kirchoff, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-3781
Molly Portz, Academic Health Center, 612-625-2640

 Give a Hoot for Great Gray Owls
U of M fundraising challenge benefits injured great gray owls

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (Mar. 16, 2005) The University of Minnesota Raptor Center needs money to help care for the more than 85 great gray owls that have been injured throughout the winter.  The high number of injured owls is a result of diminished prey and increased interaction with people and cars.  Through a generous offer from the Katherine A. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation, every dollar gifted to the The Raptor Center for the care of owls will be matched from the foundation.

“We are so grateful for this timely opportunity from The Saint Paul Foundation,” said Julia Ponder, D.V.M., associate director of The Raptor Center. “There is no way to budget for an event like the owl invasion. Great gray owls are magnificent creatures, and we are happy we can get these injured owls back into the wild.”

It costs approximately $1,000 to rehabilitate and release each owl.  Their mating season is next month and the staff is anxious to get the owls back to their natural habitat.

Please send donations to: The Raptor Center, 1920 Fitch Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108.

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