Snow damage totals $1.5M at Maryland Zoo; aviaries wrecked, spring opening delayed, owl loose

Snow damage to Md. zoo at $1.5 million; owl loose

BALTIMORE — An owl is on the loose and the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will have to delay its season opening because of damage from two heavy snowstorms.

Zoo officials say they have at least $1.5 million in losses from historic storms across the Mid-Atlantic.

An aviary for Maryland birds was a total loss, the African aviary was heavily damaged and more than 60 trees or large limbs fell.

A long-eared owl from the damaged aviary is still on the loose.

The zoo was scheduled to reopen March 1 after its winter break. But zoo President Donald Hutchinson says the opening will have to be postponed at least two weeks and more snow could push the opening back further.

He says missing a month could cut revenue substantially for the zoo already struggling with financial difficulties.

Information from: The Baltimore Sun, www.baltimoresun.com