If you have ever visited the center it is most likely you have never seen Ethel and that is the way we want it.  Ethel performs a very important at the Wildlife Center and needs to stay as wild as possible.  She is the foster mom for all the orphan Great Horned owl chicks we receive.  Even though she can't fly she can still teach her young charges the lessons of how to be an owl.  Added bonus is that she feeds all the chicks and all we need to do is provide the food. 

As the chicks mature we move them and Ethel into our larger owl enclosure.  Once they are fairly well flighted we remove Ethel and allow them to continue developing on their own.  In 2004 Ethel was quite busy raising 6 owlets.

Every year we Ethel is given at least 1 baby and usually more to raise. When chicks are brought to us we wait a few days to make sure they are eating on own and in good health then it is out to Ethel.  Below are more pictures of her and her young plus a personal favorite picture of her.