Specimen Spotlight: Burrowing Owl

One of the goals of the Bell’s research collections is to document biodiversity from across the state. Recently, the Bell’s Curatorial Research Associate Sam Getty prepared a unique specimen that was originally collected — perhaps unexpectedly — in northern Minnesota. Queue the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia). 

This particular Burrowing Owl was found in Cook County. It was soon donated to the Bell’s Salvage Wildlife project by a biologist from the Superior National Forest in the Tofte District named Dave Grosshuesch.

Spotting a Burrowing Owl in northern Minnesota is not impossible, but it is rare. Currently, Minnesota has a total of 183 records dating back to 1887. The first was recorded in Jackson County, in the southwestern part of Minnesota. Since then, 35 more counties have had records — the majority being from the southwestern counties on the South Dakota border with Rock, Lac qui Parle, and Traverse Counties. Additionally, we’ve only had three records in the past decade: Faribault (2023), Brown (2023), and Wilkin (2016).

Therefore, in the words of bird historian and current Bell Research Associate Anthony Hertzel, “This record is interesting and unusual for several reasons.” For one, the area where this specimen was found only has three prior records, all of which were farther south in Duluth. “A record from the northeastern Cook County would be pretty much unprecedented, especially since it is a region of boreal forest, wetlands, and bogs, which is an atypical habitat for this species,” shared Hertzel. 

Collecting unique specimens like this is important because they can help us understand ecological patterns and changes for years to come. To preserve this information, Getty worked to make a study skin with the specimen, along with removing and preserving a wing to create a spread. Additionally, a partial skeleton was kept. To preserve genetic information, the team froze tissue samples. The GI tract was frozen to check for microplastics, screen for parasites, and used to examine the animal’s diet. 

While this Burrowing Owl specimen is a unique example of things collected, the team continues to process new specimens, including other vagrants and species of special interest to science and the public.

This Burrowing Owl was collected as part of the Salvage Wildlife project, an LCCMR-funded project. This initiative taps into a network of nature enthusiasts and wildlife professionals across Minnesota and asks people to contribute wild, deceased birds and mammals. These specimens will bolster our understanding of how wildlife respond to changing environments, contribute to informed management decisions, and build a strong system of monitoring for big issues including disease emergence and spread, environmental contaminants, and declining populations of species that are important in the healthy function of our ecosystems. More detailed information on how to contribute is available here.

As specimens are collected and contributed by people across Minnesota, they will be prepared for scientific use by technicians like Sam at the Bell Museum and Science Museum of Minnesota. This process includes collecting information such as standard measurements, sex, age, and reproductive condition, and saving materials such as feathers and fur, skeletons, and tissues for genetic and chemical analysis. These different parts of animal carcasses are useful for tracking the spread of diseases, tracing the prevalence of toxins, assessing environmental conditions, and understanding ecological interactions with other animals and plants (such as diet and parasite loads). All data and materials will be archived in natural history museum research collections and will be available for agencies, scientists, educators, and other users in Minnesota and beyond.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.