Gladys and Stan

It would be nice if the school could use this as a teaching moment rather than seeming so put out. A better lesson would be that sometimes we need to make accommodations for nature instead of moving something we might deem an "inconvenience". I wonder how this is going to turn out. Hopefully some student doesn't decide to "handle" it themselves. If that happens, I don't want to know about it.

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI134991/

Owls take over high school football field

SUNRISE, Fla. (WSVN) -- One South Florida football team is unable to play or practice after two owls took over their field.

Gladys and Stan, a pair of burrowing owls, seem determined to take on Piper High School's football team, the Bengals. "If I was a football player, I would probably call the little endangered species people, and tell them that we need these owls to get out like ASAP," said Taleca Stone.

Students at Piper High are not too keen on these northern visitors. On Monday, the birds settled in on the 25 and 35 yard lines, and now the football team cannot play on the school's field. "In fact, they changed their home fields to make games away, soccer schedule has changed for both the boys and the girls," said Athletic Director Thomas Marante.

Most of the students said they were actually surprised when they first heard about what was happening on their own football field. "I think they should just put them somewhere else," said Martron.

Until the school figures out what to do with them, Gladys and Stan do have the upper hand under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules, which classify them as a species of special concern. "I think it would be better if they just take the owls safely, put them somewhere else, so we could play," said Alain Martron.

UPDATE

Gladys and Stan have been evicted from the field. I don't like the message this sends, although at the very least, it was done with permission of the wildlife officials. I wonder if the owls have taken to the new site offered to them. Sad. Fare thee well Stan and Gladys. Fare thee well.

http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/1321653.html

Burrowing owls booted from Fla. football field

The Associated Press

SUNRISE, Fla. -- A pair of owls that invaded a South Florida high school football team's home turf have flown the coop.

Piper High School's football team was forced to stop practicing and playing games on their home field after a two burrowing owls began to nest in the ground. The owls are considered a species of special concern.

School employees collapsed the nests this week, with the permission of wildlife officials. But workers at the school also dug a new burrow for the owls, which are named Stan and Gladys. Piper High science students also plan to work on a burrow project for the owls later this month.