PROVO — Scott Root's job can be a real hoot.
It was Wednesday when the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources worker was asked to help relocate a mama barn owl and her seven owlets using only his wits, wire and a pair of thick leather gloves.
The owl family had taken up roost in the floor of a helicopter that's perched atop the Utah Valley State College Fire and Rescue Academy training tower at the Provo Municipal Airport.
The nesting spot, while cozy for the owl family, prevented training exercises in the tower.
"We think the owls are cool. We like them here," said Mike Smith, assistant director of the academy. "We'd like to have four or five owl boxes around here. We certainly have the food for them. But the firefighting season is upon us, and we need to get going."
The mother owl apparently scouted out the area several weeks ago and began laying eggs. Three different batches have hatched, producing a brood of ugly-cute owlets with sharp beaks, heart-shaped faces and varying amounts of white body fuzz.
Employees at the training center noticed the fledgling flock about 10 days ago, and Smith promptly called off all training use of the tower since the owl is a protected bird — and the parent owls made it known they didn't appreciate visits from curious humans.
Smith and others have watched the owls on a Web camera that just happened to be positioned on the tower until Wednesday's eviction effort.
The family of birds has been relocated to a specially built owl box — dubbed the Hootie Hilton — constructed on top of a pole on the east side of the training ground.
The eviction from the helicopter was inevitable.
"This year there is going to be a increased need for helicopter training," said Steve Lutz, academy director. "With the tanker fleet grounded" — federal officials have decided that 31 air tankers used in recent years to fight wildfires are not safe to operate — "the helicopters will be our main line of defense."
Root said the owl family should be happy in their new home, and the practice helicopter will be screened off so they cannot return there.
Owls generally adopt a particular area for their habitat, so Lutz expects the mom, dad and babies will continue to make the training area their home.
The owlets — as well as the mother owl — hissed fiercely as they were plucked from the helicopter Wednesday. Once transferred to the Hootie Hilton, the babies hunkered down, but their mother headed for some nearby trees.
"She's knows where they are. She'll be back," Root said, satisfied with his day's work.
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com