Filed under: Travel News
Tom Samuelson/Caters Newsminnes
A photographer has captured the deadly moment a great grey owl swooped down on an unassuming mouse and snagged its prey.
The majestic bird swoops from the sky to snatch the tiny rodent from the ground below.
Wings spread and talons outstretched, the magnificent bird flew off with its prey firmly clutched in its beak before tucking into the tasty meal.
These images were captured by photographer Tom Samuelson, 55, while shooting along the Lake Superior shoreline just south of Two Harbours in Minnesota, US.
Tom Samuelson/Caters News
The great grey owl is a very large owl distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
They breed in North America, from as far east as Quebec to the Pacific coast and Alaska, and from Finland and Estonia across northern Asia.
They are permanent residents, but may move south and southeast when food is scarce.
A small population, estimated at less than 100 birds, occurs in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. This population is the southernmost population of the species' range and is listed as endangered under California's Endangered Species Act.
The animals have big, rounded heads, and their length ranges from 61 to 84cm (24 to 33in).
The wingspan can exceed 152cm (60 in), but averages 142 cm (56in) for females and 140cm (55in) for males.
Great grey owls rely heavily upon small rodents for prey, with voles being their main food source.
But this poor little mouse just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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