Maine biologists nab owl taking heads off chickens

[February 10, 2011]  BETHEL, Maine (AP) -- A Maine barred owl was caught inside a barn where it had been decapitating one chicken a day and flying off with the heads.

The Sun Journal newspaper reports that the owl killed five or six chickens. The owl was captured Sunday and has been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Wildlife biologist Judy Camuso says owls are having a tough time finding food this winter and the owl was trying to survive. She says it was near death. Camuso says chickens are too big for owls to carry off and owls are notorious for eating heads. She says many animals that owls live on, such as squirrels and voles, live under the snow. ___ Information from: Sun-Journal, http://www.sunjournal.com/ [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.