Casper does not have much time for people, but she has spent 26 years raising baby owls.

The great horned owl has fostered more than 500 owlets at the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Delta since 1999. She is currently fostering four fledglings, all rescued from different circumstances and all around the same age, between six and seven weeks.

“She’s got a little edge to her, let’s say that,” said Rob Hope, manager of the society.

Hope said Casper’s maternal instincts are strong, and her aversion to humans is even stronger, which helps teach the babies to fear people. He said she demonstrates skills the young owls need before release, including flying and catching prey like mice.

“They look up to her, they follow her, they mimic her,” said Hope. “That’s what we want so that when those babies are in the wild, we know that they’ve got a good chance of survival.”

The society rescues, rehabilitates and releases raptors including eagles, falcons and owls.

Casper arrived at the society in 1999 after getting caught in a leg-hold trap in Prince George. Hope said she was missing talons and would not do well hunting in the wild.

He said she showed her parenting instincts the first time she was near a baby owlet. According to Hope, she immediately tried to get into the baby’s cage, and once volunteers removed the cage, she was feeding the baby within an hour.

“She’s our trusted mom for the last 26 years, and hopefully she gets another 26 years,” said Hope.

The society said Casper was already an adult when she was found and estimates she is in her late 20s. According to the Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society in Vancouver, great horned owls can live well into their 30s in captivity.

Hope said Casper takes the lead in raising the babies, which lets volunteers limit contact.

“That allows us to just throw food in, and mom does the rest,” he said.

He said her current fledglings will stay with her for about another month before moving on.

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