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Dan Kraker

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The controversial practice of luring owls with mice to photograph them in action and up close has come to a head in northeast Minnesota this winter, leading to angry confrontations over ethics and animal welfare.

Owl feeding controversy ruffles feathers

A great gray rests on a highway sign while hunting February 28, 2017.

Derek Montgomery for MPR News

A Northern Hawk owl is baited into coming close to the camera.

Keith R. Crowley | Lodge Trail Media

Wildlife photographer Michael Furtman of Duluth

A group of photographers responded to a social media alert.

A great gray looks up after plunging into the snow.

 Mary Dreher of Bloomington stops to photograph a northern hawk owl.

A great grey owl sits atop a spruce tree north of Two Harbors.

A great gray owl rests on a power line while hunting.

National Wildlife magazine discovered this photographer used baiting.

National Wildlife Federation

Crowley observed a photographer preparing to lure in a Northern Hawk owl.

A great gray owl takes flight north of Two Harbors, Minn. 

A group of photographers gathered to watch for a great gray owl.

Owl feeding controversy ruffles feathers

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