Owls Among Us
Owls are a true indicator of the health of our ecosystem according to owl rehabilitator and educator Gwen Rice. Only 1 in 4 survive their first year of life in the wild, with many losses human related. Rice, co-founder of Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, will present “Owls Among Us” at the historic Pardee-Morris House (PMH) on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. Free registration here.
During this special “opening day” presentation at PMH, Rice will discuss the eight species of owls found in Connecticut and advise visitors on how to protect them. She’ll bring along two live “owl ambassadors” for an up-close view.
Rice notes that as natural pest controllers, owls play a significant role in the food chain and keep the populations of their prey in check. Sadly, their lifestyle also exposes them to the lethal doses of rodenticides frequently used for household pest control. Rice will discuss rodenticides and other threats to Connecticut’s owls and offer visitors advice on how they can help protect them. “We encourage citizens to become good stewards of the environment by avoiding the use of poison, installing owl houses and supporting conservation efforts,” she says.
Rice spent 36 years as an occupational therapist, rehabilitating people. In 2016, she opted for something different. “As an avid owl enthusiast, it was a natural fit to turn my rehab skills towards these amazing birds,” she says. “I spent countless hours studying each species of owl, learning their behaviors and husbandry.” In need of a solid mentor, she traveled to El Paso, Arkansas, to the Raptor Center of Central Arkansas, and studied with Bird of Prey Rehabilitator Rodney Paul. Earning a federal permit to work independently with owls took five years; she and her husband, Rich, maintain permits from the state of Connecticut, USFW and USDA in order to perform this vital work.
