Welcome to an exciting adventure into the world of owl pellets and taxidermy! Today, we have a special guest, Kendall Long, who you might know from TV shows like The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise. Together, we’re diving into the fascinating process of dissecting owl pellets from Kendall County, Illinois.
Owl pellets are small, compact bundles that owls regurgitate. They contain the indigestible parts of their prey, like bones and fur. By examining these pellets, we can learn a lot about what owls eat and how they live. Today, we’re looking at pellets from a long-eared owl, which is pretty cool!
Kendall has always loved nature and animals. Her interest in taxidermy, which is the art of preserving animals, started when she was a kid. She loved exploring the outdoors and visiting museums where she could see animals up close. Her first taxidermy project was a Bore Head mount named Peggosiville, which her dad helped name. Even though her family thought it was just a phase, Kendall’s passion for taxidermy has only grown over time.
Did you know Kendall was a contestant on season 22 of The Bachelor? She joined the show on a whim after watching it with her sister. Kendall’s unique interests, like playing the ukulele and collecting taxidermy, caught the producers’ attention. During the show, she even got to share her love for taxidermy with Arie, the bachelor, by creating little bride and groom rats for a date!
For Kendall, taxidermy is more than just preserving animals; it’s about appreciating their beauty and life. Although some people misunderstood her passion, Kendall used her platform to educate others about taxidermy as an art form. She believes that seeing animals in real life can have a much bigger impact than just looking at pictures or videos.
Back to our owl pellets! Dissecting them is like going on a treasure hunt. You never know what you’ll find inside. As Kendall and Emily, the host, carefully picked apart their pellets, they discovered tiny bones and even parts of a skull. It’s a fun and educational activity that anyone can try!
After dissecting the owl pellets, Kendall and Emily cleaned the bones to prepare them for the museum collection. It was a fantastic experience, and Kendall was thrilled to be part of it. Dissecting owl pellets is a great way to learn about nature and have fun at the same time. So, why not give it a try and see what you can discover?
Thanks for joining us on this adventure into the world of owl pellets and taxidermy. We hope you enjoyed learning with us!
Get ready to become a detective! You’ll be dissecting your own owl pellet to uncover the secrets of what owls eat. Carefully separate the bones from the fur and try to identify the different types of prey the owl might have consumed. Use a bone identification chart to help you match the bones to specific animals.
Using the information from your owl pellet dissection, create a food web that shows the relationships between the owl and its prey. Include other animals and plants that might be part of the ecosystem. This will help you understand the role owls play in their environment.
Channel your inner artist like Kendall and create a taxidermy-inspired art project. Use clay or other materials to sculpt an animal, focusing on its unique features. This activity will help you appreciate the beauty and diversity of wildlife.
Choose an animal that interests you and research its habitat, diet, and role in the ecosystem. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class. This will help you practice your research and public speaking skills.
Take a walk in a local park or nature reserve and observe the wildlife around you. Bring a notebook to jot down any interesting animals or plants you see. Reflect on how these observations connect to what you’ve learned about owl pellets and taxidermy.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
**Emily:** We have a very special guest here today at the Brain Scoop. We are visited by Kendall Long, who was a contestant on *The Bachelor* and *Bachelor in Paradise*. Today, we’re going to dissect some owl pellets from Kendall County, Illinois.
**Kendall:** It’s meant to be.
**Emily:** Yeah, and they are from a long-eared owl, we learned.
**Kendall:** Kendall Long.
**Emily:** It’s double meant to be.
**Kendall:** It’s like fate.
**Emily:** Serendipitous. These pellets were collected from a single roost. So, do you want first pick? Pick your pellet.
**Kendall:** This one looks really interesting.
**Emily:** So, you are a lifelong lover of zoology. Has taxidermy always been a part of that interest?
**Kendall:** Yes, I think it grew with my love of nature. I was a huge outdoor kid and would find things and keep them. The first museum I went to was along a hiking trail, and they had taxidermy there, including bobcats and mountain lions. I loved being close up and seeing all the details. My first mount was a Bore Head mount named Peggosiville, which my dad named. I was so excited about it!
**Emily:** I feel like I make that face on this program fairly regularly.
**Kendall:** That is the best kind of face.
**Emily:** We are unique friends.
**Kendall:** The pure excitement of taxidermy face.
**Emily:** How did your family feel about that?
**Kendall:** My family thought it was a phase.
**Emily:** They were like, “I can’t wait until Kendall outgrows this.”
**Kendall:** Yes, like a punk phase or a goth phase—just a taxidermy phase.
**Emily:** And you still haven’t grown out of it.
**Kendall:** No, I don’t hope to anytime soon.
**Emily:** You were a contestant on season 22 of *The Bachelor*.
**Kendall:** Yes, with Arie.
**Emily:** How did you become a contestant on the show, and when did your interest in taxidermy come to light?
**Kendall:** I never imagined myself being on the show because it seemed like all these girls going for one guy. But while watching the show with my sister, I thought, “I’m going to do it.” I signed up, and they called me the next day. I described myself as a ukulele-playing, taxidermy-collecting twin, and I think that intrigued them.
**Emily:** We haven’t had that type of contestant before.
**Kendall:** Exactly, and I think they encouraged taxidermy throughout the experience. They brought some of my taxidermy to show Arie.
**Emily:** The Bachelor.
**Kendall:** Yes, and he was somewhat into it.
**Emily:** Then you had the opportunity for a one-on-one date with Arie. Can you tell me about that experience?
**Kendall:** The hometown date is supposed to show the bachelor more about your life and family. I initially wanted to do a picnic at a cemetery because they’re beautiful, but I also wanted to try taxidermy since I had never done it before. They thought it was a good idea, so we ran with it.
**Emily:** What did you make with The Bachelor?
**Kendall:** We made little bride and groom rats. I came in a day early to learn how to do it, so I pretended to be a professional.
**Emily:** I am learning on the fly.
**Kendall:** My hands were shaking as I stitched it up.
**Emily:** Their look is great.
**Kendall:** Maybe I made that one.
**Emily:** Do you think that experience helped him appreciate taxidermy as an art form?
**Kendall:** I think so. Initially, he was weirded out by taxidermy, but over time, he understood that I just really love animals and appreciate them.
**Emily:** You see taxidermy as a representation of life, not just death.
**Kendall:** Exactly.
**Emily:** What was the audience’s reaction?
**Kendall:** It’s hard to ignore social media. I didn’t get the best reactions. Many people saw me as a hunter or someone who tortured animals. However, some thanked me for expressing my interest in taxidermy. It’s not really popular in the *Bachelor* demographic.
**Emily:** It was interesting that you used that platform to educate. You took a risk by putting yourself out there.
**Kendall:** Do you get any negativity for loving taxidermy?
**Emily:** Not really, but I think it’s because I’ve always been open about my passion for it.
**Kendall:** I felt the same way. Watching *Brain Scoop* was amazing because it showed things I’m interested in, and it was great to see someone so enthusiastic about it.
**Emily:** We should be running the taxidermy rebrand.
**Kendall:** I agree! You’re much more impacted when you see something in real life rather than on a screen.
**Emily:** Can you really see what’s inside of this owl pellet?
**Kendall:** Yes, I’m touching it.
**Emily:** Ooh, I found part of a skull. That’s exciting!
**Kendall:** Hey now!
**Emily:** Look at this fun adventure!
**Kendall:** I encourage everyone to pick apart an owl pellet at least once in their life.
**Emily:** It’s so much fun; you never know what you’re going to find!
**Kendall:** The skeleton is coming together nicely.
**Emily:** I know, I’m finding all sorts of little bits.
**Kendall:** Wow, you’re really going at it!
**Emily:** Now that we’ve dissected our owl pellets, they need a bit more cleaning before being identified and added to the museum collection.
**Kendall:** I’m glad I could be a part of that.
**Emily:** Isn’t that fun? Thanks for coming on the show!
**Kendall:** Thanks for having me! It was really fun dissecting.
**Emily:** This was awesome!
Owl – A nocturnal bird of prey with large eyes and a flat face, known for its ability to hunt in the dark. – The owl silently flew through the forest, searching for small animals to catch.
Pellets – Small, rounded masses of undigested material that some birds, like owls, regurgitate. – In science class, we examined owl pellets to learn about their diet and the types of prey they consume.
Taxidermy – The art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals for display. – The museum had a taxidermy exhibit featuring various birds and mammals from the local environment.
Nature – The physical world and everything in it, such as plants, animals, and landscapes, that is not made by humans. – Our class took a field trip to the nature reserve to observe the diverse ecosystems and wildlife.
Animals – Living organisms that feed on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous systems. – The zoo is home to many different animals, each adapted to their unique habitats.
Bones – The rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates, providing structure and protection. – We studied the bones of different animals to understand how their skeletons support movement and survival.
Dissecting – The process of carefully cutting apart a body or plant to study its internal parts. – During biology class, we were dissecting a frog to learn about its internal organs and systems.
Beauty – A quality or combination of qualities that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight, often found in nature. – The beauty of the sunset over the mountains left us all in awe of the natural world.
Environment – The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. – Protecting the environment is crucial for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and the health of our planet.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, often including learning about the natural world. – Environmental education helps students understand the importance of conserving resources and protecting wildlife.
