The Owl  Pellets

After the school’s art show we went to Pizza Ranch for supper. Izzy ran up to our table with some news. No, we don’t make Izzy eat by herself. She had found a school friend and was sitting with her.

“Tomorrow at school we get to do a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We get to play with owl poop.”

I was too polite to correct her and tell her it was owl puke.

She could barely contain her excitement.

Once-in-a-lifetime.

But she woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. Izzy usually doesn’t mind missing a day or two of school, but this was the once-in-a-lifetime day. Nothing could be done about it. Life is life and sometimes life has down days.

Even on the once-in-a-lifetime day.

Before school the next morning Jetta and I stopped at Barn Wired to get me a coffee and her a strawberry smoothie. Izzy’s teacher was there as well so I told her Izzy wouldn’t be at school.

“Oh, that’s too bad. I told the kids today was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime

experience – they get to dissect owl pellets.”

I was too polite to correct her and tell her it was owl puke.

“Izzy was so excited about today. Tell Izzy I will save an owl pellet for her.”

This time I didn’t even think about correcting her as I was just so thankful for her thoughtfulness. I sent Jaime a text to let Izzy know, hoping to make her day a bit better.

When Izzy gets older she may or may not remember what she found in that owl puke. But I doubt that she will ever forget a teacher who did what she could to save her once-in-a-lifetime day.

What is an owl pellet?

An owl pellet is a small, oval-shaped object that is regurgitated by owls when they can’t digest the bones, feathers, or teeth of their prey. Owls often swallow their prey whole, such as mice, voles, and small birds. The owl’s gizzard sorts the prey, allowing soft tissues to pass through for digestion, while the remaining bones, fur, and feathers are regurgitated as a single pellet.