Wisconsin Neighbor Weekend at the International Owl Center

Residents of Trempealeau, Vernon, and La Crosse Counties, including college students, are specially invited to visit the International Owl Center for FREE on February 11 and 12. The Owl Center is located in Houston, Minnesota, just 30 minutes west of La Crosse, and is the only all-owl education center in the United States.

Five live ambassador owls work at the Center: Ruby the Great Horned Owl, Uhu the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Piper the American Barn Owl, JR the Eastern Screech-Owl, and Bea the Burrowing Owl. Because they don’t live at the Center and commute to work, sometimes one or two decide they aren’t going to work (can’t we all relate to that feeling?) You’ll also find touchable wings and tails, 18 species of extremely lifelike mounted owls, owl art from children around the world, skulls, eggs, cultural items from around the world, and life-size spread-wing owl silhouettes. The gift shop is stocked with a wide variety of local, fair trade, and other owl items. Highly trained staff present programs each day at 11 AM and 2 PM.

The Houston community has gotten on the owl bandwagon too. You’ll find 11 public owl sculptures located around town and Barista’s Coffee House is completely decorated with owls.

The Center is open 10 AM to 4 PM. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $4 for students ages 4-17, and children 3 and under and members are free. More information is available at www.internationalowlcenter.org or by contacting the Center at 507-896-OWLS (6957) or karla@internationalowlcenter.org.