Our job as conservation educators is to properly prepare an owl for a life of being comfortable around unusual situations — while still preserving their owlness. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Owls are incredibly specialized predators. The way they forage in low light conditions...
It’s that time of year when people start making decisions about their next ambassador owl. Whether you’re raising a young bird or reassessing an existing one, the question always comes up: “Can this owl be trained?” I recently had a consult with a wildlife rehabber that zeroed...
A confident ambassador owl isn’t just calm on the glove. They’re responsive, adaptable, and capable of engaging in public programs without signs of chronic stress. But getting there takes more than just “good handling.” It requires an intentional, behavior-first approach—one rooted in ethology, positive reinforcement,...
One thing you'll always hear us say at ABI is "We always say we never use the words 'always' and 'never'" It's meant to be tongue in cheek, and it refers to the lack of absolutes in animal training. And so it is with imprints...