MPS Scientists Have a Hoot!
Curiosity inspires learning. Photo MPS
MANITOUWADGE, ON – The young scientists in Ms. McLeod’s class recently had the most interesting and exciting opportunity to dissect owl pellets.
The students learned that after an owl eats the small rodents, birds, and bugs that are a part of its nightly diet, its stomach cannot digest the fur, bones, teeth, feathers, and insect shells from that food. These indigestible parts are formed into a tight pellet inside the owl and are later regurgitated. While dissecting the pellets, the students were amazed to be able to identify the owls’ meals by comparing the bones they discovered in the pellets to a bone and animal chart.
This “hands-on” experience provided students with a learning opportunity that was real, factual and … FUN! Thank you so much to from Manitouwadge High School science teacher, Mr. Martin, for providing the owl pellets to our class.
Young scientist delicately dissecting an owl pellet. Photo MPS
The students were intrigued to compare what they found in the pellets to the images on their charts to identify what the owls ate. Photo MPS
