Monday, March 28, 2011

Science Experiment: dissection of an Owl Pellet






The 4th, 5th and 6th graders are currently studying the eating habits and environments of animals.
As an example, we dissected an owl pellet to find out what this raptor eats. Owls often swallow prey whole. The indigestible parts of the prey (bones, teeth, fur, feathers) are compressed in the gizzard to form an oval-shaped mass known as owl pellet. This pellet is regurgitated back through the mouth about 12 hours after the prey was first consumed. We were amazed by the amounts of bones and fur that we found in the pellets.
You are welcome to see the results in the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classroom.