COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – A great horned owl named Athena has been released into the wild after spending three months growing to full maturity in a Missouri animal rehabilitation program.
The Columbia Missourian reports a group of about 10 people gathered
Tuesday at the Three Creeks Conservation Area near Columbia as a wooden crate containing Athena was unloaded from a car. When Athena finally came out of her crate, she flew to a nearby tree, where she perched for a few seconds before taking off.
Athena was too young to care for herself when she was found alone in April. That’s when the Raptor Rehabilitation Project got involved.
Volunteer and University of Missouri veterinary student Rebecca Belter says Athena had “no great love for humans,” which made her a great candidate for release.
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