How often do you get to hold an owl?

This is the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Ritual, at the Medieval Faire in Norman who was part of the Royal Gauntlet's Birds of Prey family. Regina & I stood in line for an hour and a half to pay $1 for the chance to hold him.




(Ha, he looks thrilled!)

The Royal Gauntlet is a bird rescue for sick or injured birds and works to release them back into the wild. Regina & I happened across their show while waiting for the boys to get their homemade root beer and ended up staying to watch the whole thing. There was a hawk that, after being mauled by a bobcat, had to have a six hour surgery with 295 stitches. Now she flies beautifully!

This particular owl apparently can puncture steel, therefore the glove used is made of Kevlar. Eurasian owl's also are known for bringing down large prey such as deer by hooking their intense talons on the back of their target, stripping the hide off of them, letting them bleed to death and then, well, feasting.

Ritual was sold to a zoo for $10,000, but after realizing how dangerous his breed was the zoo refused to take him. So the man was going to destroy the owl - now realizing the danger - but the Royal Gauntlet happened to hear about the birds plight and brought him in. After only six weeks of training he became a fully fledged member of their show.

He was incredibly beautiful and so soft! More than worth the long wait in line. Thanks to Regina for waiting it out with me and Brad for the pictures!