Fourth grade students at Ridgefield Elementary School will participate in a hands-on workshop that has been termed nature’s own crime scene investigation. Dr. Richard Raid, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida and an Erie native, will lead the students through an owl pellet dissection on February 22 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ridgefield School, 3227 Highland Road. Dr. Raid has studied the habits of barn owls and discovered that because the owls prey primarily on rodents that destroy or contaminate human food supplies, barn owls have been referred to as one of the most beneficial bird species on earth.

Due to the high pH balance of a barn owl’s stomach, many of the fur and bones of a barn owl’s prey are left undigested. The students will dissect the owl pellets and then compare the skeletal remains found in the pellets to bone charts, determining the prey of the barn owls and even the ecosystems in which the owls live.

“This hands-on workshop fits perfectly into the elementary science curriculum,” said Dr. Dean Maynard, superintendent of schools. “The students are given the opportunity to explore the amazing power of nature right in their very own classroom.”

Along with his plant pathology and school gardens project, Dr. Raid has also directed the UF Barn Owl Project. Originating from a simple high school science fair project, this program encourages the enhancement of barn owl populations for sustainable rodent control. The program actively recruits elementary and high school students to get involved in an environmental project that benefits both humans and a wildlife species. Dr. Raid’s program has been featured on Public Broadcasting’s widely acclaimed nature series, CNN, and National Geographic’s website. In addition, Dr. Raid has authored more than 250 miscellaneous scientific publications. He has also received the USDA’s Secretary’s Honor Award.