While I have seen owls in the Abilene area, I've never had one living in a tree in my own yard. My boss Trace, however, has better luck as he has not just one but two owls living in a tree in his backyard.

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These big, beautiful birds do bring a sense of elegance to any tree it perches in, but they also bring lots of nasty droppings. Yes, I'm aware birds poop, but what the owls leave is much more than just poop - they leave mangled carcasses.

Trace Michaels
Trace Michaels
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Among the many photos that Trace showed me were what we both thought was a massive pile of owl dung, but that wasn't actually the case.

Trace Michaels
Trace Michaels
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After a little research, we quickly found out that it was owl vomit, essentially. The official term is called "owl pellets" and they are the remains of the owl's prey. You see, owls don't have teeth to chew up their prey, so they swallow it whole and then vomit up what the stomach doesn't digest.

Pretty gnarly, right? I think so.

So if you see piles of bones, feathers, and fur in your yard, then you just might have seen owl pellets and you just might have a wise, feathery friend living in your tree.

Trace Michaels
Trace Michaels
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Did you know that Texas has 17 documented species of owls? Yep, that's true, according to BirdingLocations.com. Here in the Abilene area, you're more than likely going to see the Eastern Screech Owl or the Great Horned Owl. Either way, they are majestic creatures, in my opinion.

If you have owls living in your tree, send me some photos so I can add them to this article.

Oh, and speaking of trees, check out this treehouse Airbnb that's just down the road from us.

LOOK: Airbnb Treehouse in Baird, Texas

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