June 6, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Children at Justin Potter Library were treated to a visit from “Bentley”, a red-shouldered hawk and “Otis” , a three month old Opossum during Thursday’s Summer Reading Program event.
“Bentley” and “Otis” were brought out for the children to see by Park Manager Brad Halfacre and Andrew Webber, Seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger at Edgar Evins State Park.
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“Bentley” is called a red-shouldered hawk because he has a red color on his shoulders. A red-shouldered hawk is not as large as the red-tailed hawk, something very common in middle Tennessee,” said Halfacre.
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“In captivity “Bentley” gets a great diet of frozen mice. He does eat some quail, chicken gizzard, and sometimes a fresh dead squirrel from the road. I have had him about a year. I wanted to turn him back into the wild but unfortunately that wasn’t able to happen because he imprinted on me. In the wild a hawk would be scared of humans but “Bentley” got used to me. When I got him I would open the cage and throw him a mouse. I kept feeding him as he got bigger and later tried to release him. He flew off fine but he couldn’t hunt on his own so he came back to my house and waited for me to feed him. It took me about three more months to catch him again. Once I caught him again we started the permitting process and now he is a resident bird at the park,” said Halfacre.
WJLE first introduced “Otis” during last Saturday’s National Trails Day at Edgar Evins State Park.
“We rescued him about three months ago after his mother was attacked by a dog when he was really little. When opossums are first born they live in their mother’s pouch and when they get older they ride around on their mother’s back. Otis’ mother was attacked by a dog and he was the only one that survived the attack. We will have him for the rest of his life. When he is fully grown he will have about 52 teeth. He is a nocturnal animal which means he sleeps during the day and is active at night. Otis will live to be about 10-15 years old,” said Webber.
Other Justin Potter Library’s Summer Reading Events:
*Thursday, June 13 at 2 p.m.: Barry Mitchell’s Aliens, Astronauts and a Turtle in Space
*Thursday, June 20 at 2 p.m.: A Universe of Stories & Activities with DPC, Board of Education and UT Extension
*Thursday, June 27 at 2 p.m.: Final Party at the DeKalb County Complex Theater: Scott Humston’s Music, Magic, and Comedy
Alexandria Library Summer Events:
*Story Time & Activities Wednesday, June 5, 12, & 19 at 2 p.m.
For more information call Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359