Gallery: These Adorable Owls Will Not Kill You With Plague

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    Boise State University
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    Owlet being measured before banding.
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    Burrowing-Owl FEATURE ART

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    Boise State University
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    This adorable baby burrowing owl is being banded -- and checked for fleas.
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    Boise State University
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    Getting owls out of their burrows is not for the faint of heart. Dr. Jim Belthoff reaches into a burrowing owl burrow.
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    Boise State University
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    Dr. Jim Belthoff, lead researcher on the flea study, with an indignant research subject.
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    Boise State University
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    Owlets are kept in a bucket for banding and measuring. You can tell they are not adults because their eyes are not yet yellow. Also, very fluffy!
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    Boise State University
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    Coffee. Owls. Pickup trucks. The essential ingredients of research.
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    Boise State University
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    An owlet is measured in preparation for banding. The bands help researchers track owl migration and reproduction.
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    Boise State University
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    Plague! These disconcerting signs can be found around prairie dog towns in the North Central Mountain region.
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    Boise State University
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    Burrowing owls readily accept artificial nests. This hopefully will help with species recovery, and also makes them easier to study.
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    Boise State University
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    This adult owl is being checked for parasites and measured for wingspan before banding.
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