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Office of Public Affairs | |
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| Press Release |
Date: October 3, 2006 |
COAST GUARD, OJAI RAPTOR CENTER UNITE FOR RESCUE OF THREATENED BURROWING OWL | |
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SANTA ROSA, Calif , September 29, 2006 - Crewmembers stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon awoke yesterday morning to discover a stowaway owl amidst the gear on deck. Thinking it could be a Burrowing Owl, and a potentially protected species, they immediately provided it warm shelter, food, and water until they were able to get it safely to shore. The crew, who grew fond of the owl, even coined a name for it, "Harvey Bojangles." Working through their Legal Defense Team (PACJAG) in Alameda and with the assistance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who confirmed that the owl was a Burrowing Owl, a threatened species, the crew transferred Harvey Bojangles to ornithologists from the bird recovery organization, Ojai Raptor Center of Ventura, CA late yesterday morning. The cutter Mellon had been underway for over a month in the waters off the coast of Southern California on a multi-mission cruise in support of Search and Rescue, trials of the newly re-engined HH-65C helicopter, and Training.
"It's always good to be able to extend our missions to include protecting the environment in addition to assisting the mariners of our local community," said the Commanding Officer of Cutter Mellon. Media interested in obtaining photos should contact Lt. j.g. Josephson via e-mail. More information on the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon can be found on our website at http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/mellon/ | |
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