ISHPEMING — A rehabilitated great horned owl was released in front of a large crowd on Saturday at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming. The recovery of the formerly starving owl would not have been possible if it were not for a local third grade teacher at Birchview Elementary School.

“We were at the Al Quaal tubing hill here in Ishpeming celebrating my son’s birthday, and noticed the owl not far from the lodge,” said teacher Craig Goff. “We thought he might have been sunning himself or maybe had some food pinned down, but then after three hours passed we figured something might have been wrong. The owl wasn’t moving at all, and that’s when another gentlemen and I decided we needed to get a hold of the DNR.”

Members from the Chocolay Raptor Center arrived at the scene within a half–hour. Using only a cardboard box and leather gloves, they were able to successfully transport the bird.

After helping the owl over a four week period, members of the community came to see the owl take flight once again. Jerry Maynard and Bob Jensen of the Chocolay Raptor Center also provided the public with information about wildlife rehabilitation.