PULLMAN, WA – A single barn owl family can eat up to 100 mice a day — 3,000 a month — making them one of nature’s best pest control teams.

At Washington State University, visitors can meet owls like these up close while learning about the critical role they play in the ecosystem, a perfect way to mark International Owl Awareness Day, celebrated each year on Aug. 4.

WSU is home to several ambassador owls, each with a unique story. There’s Eugene, a calm great horned owl with one eye and a second chance at life. Sawyer, a tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl, is no bigger than your hand. And Hurik, a Northern Pygmy Owl, prefers to peek from his special viewing box.

“These birds are here because they can’t survive in the wild — but they help teach hundreds of people about wildlife every year,” said Marcie Logsdon, WSU’s wildlife and exotics veterinarian.

These birds are here because they can’t survive in the wild — but they help teach hundreds of people about wildlife every year.

Marcie Logsdon, wildlife and exotics veterinarian
Washington State University

WSU’s ambassador owls, including Eugene the Great Horned Owl and Sawyer the Northern Saw-whet Owl, appear at educational presentations for school and community groups on the Pullman campus and surrounding area. Visitors can also arrange to see the owls during on-campus tours or special programs at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

In addition to finding a home on campus for many owls that can no longer survive in the wild, Logsdon’s team at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital treats more than 100 owls annually, most arriving injured from collisions with cars, windows, or hazards that arise from co-existing with humans. While the goal is always release back to the wild, a few remain as educational ambassadors, helping to connect people with the world of raptors.

From silent flight to 270-degree neck turns, owls never fail to amaze — and at WSU, they also inspire conservation and care.