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Burrowing Owl brings Grasshopper

This female Burrowing Owl caught a grasshopper which she is bringing to the burrow to feed her six babies. One baby will get this bug, the rest will have to wait until mom or dad return with more. The babies are about a month old and will soon be trying to catch bugs on their own, but mom and dad will continue to feed them and care for them until late summer.

Burrowing owls are born underground in burrows, often these are burrows built by prairie dogs. They hunt crickets, grasshoppers, and other bugs, as well as small mammals such as mice, and small reptiles. They are excellent parents, bringing food to their babies until the young ones are hunting for themselves, and even afterwards for a while.

Photo taken on June 22, 2020, near Greeley, Colorado