did you notice the use of the words "bird experts fear ... "

this means that, to date, there is no real evidence that this has
occurred. obviously, this is an issue that we, as birders, should
be concerned about, but seriously, this is just a tad bit overblown.
it appears that there is a *possible threat* to snowy owls from
would-be pet owners, but i have not seen *any evidence* whatsoever
that lends any validity to the likelihood of a *real threat*. has
anyone else seen any such evidence that there

[don't forget; the christian right wingers claim that there are
overt and damaging sexual connotations with girls riding brooms
while playing the rough sport, quiddich.]

i would believe that snowy owl *stuffed animals* and other
inanimate objects would experience skyrocketing sales, though,
because they are so much easier to obtain and care for in the
first place!

regards,

Deborah Wisti-Peterson, PhD Candidate nyneve at u.washington.edu
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash, USA
Visit me on the web: http://students.washington.edu/~nyneve/
Love the creator? Then protect the creation.

On Fri, 30 Nov 2001, Lauren Braden wrote:

> This week's e-newsletter from Defenders of Wildlife contains some great
> information - many of these issues impact birds directly (including the new
> Harry Potter movie!). Please read on...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Defenders of Wildlife [mailto:DENlines at den.defenders.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 11:20 AM
> To: DENlines at den.defenders.org
> Subject: DENlines
>

[bunches of stuff chopped out for brevity's sake]

> 4. HARRY POTTER'S OWL: Movie driving up demand for Snowy Owls as pets
>
> Bird experts fear the popularity of the Harry Potter movie will drive demand
> sky high for pet snowy owls, and they're warning parents not fill this item
> on their children's <http://www.defenders.org/den/issues/snowyowl.jpg>
> Holiday wish lists. It's illegal in the United States to keep owls as pets.
> Owls are so difficult to keep as pets that eventually they usually are
> released into the outdoors where they most likely will starve to death. "To
> keep a snowy owl correctly, you need the biggest aviary you could ever
> build," Jenny Thurston of the British World Owl Trust told National
> Geographic. Snowy owls also feed primarily on lemmings. If you give them the
> wrong food, they will die. "Where do you buy lemmings?" Thurston asked. "You
> can't." Defenders of Wildlife hopes Hedwig's popularity will help snowy
> owls, not hurt them, by raising awareness of the threat posed by the
> proposal now before Congress to drill in the Arctic refuge. To learn more,
> visit http://www.saveowls.org <http://www.saveowls.org> .
>
> Also, for a tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more, you can help pay for
> programs to protect the Arctic refuge by "adopting" a snowy owl - and we'll
> thank you by sending a plush owl toy - a more practical holiday gift than
> the real thing. Go to http://www.defenders.org/adopt/snowyowl
> <http://www.defenders.org/adopt/snowyowl> .
>

[yet more stuffola clipped]