State 31 - New Mexico

New Mexico Wildlife Center - Española, NM

Last night there was a comment about fluffy owls and I said that meant it was a happy owl. I’m sure it’s a little more complex than that, but when I saw this post looking for today’s owl, I figured I would make it the fact of the day.

From NMWC Facebook

Our hospital currently has 11 juvenile Western Screech Owls in care. Several of them were found in trees near construction sites, where they’d been nesting. Western Screech Owls are cavity-nesting birds, which means they would naturally nest in old or dead hollow trees, making them vulnerable to human activity such as tree cutting and construction.

Did you know that the Western Screech Owl is a masterof disguise? When frightened or threatened, it’ll stretch its body and tighten its feathers, making it longer and thinner, causing the owl to look like a tree branch.

NMWC is open to visit every day but Monday, and you can see all their birds and other animals, including an up close visit every day. They also have an open house this month where you can visit for free. See below!