It is with great sadness that we have to let you know we had to say goodbye to our beloved Eric, the Long Eared Owl on the morning of Friday 5th April. Eric joined the Gauntlet team over 15 years ago and has been an incredible member, appearing in flying shows, photography events, school visits, children’s parties, and so much more.
Over the last 9 months, Eric has been facing age related health issues, but he remained his cheerful, happy self.
Unfortunately, on Friday, as his condition had worsened over time, we had to make the devastating decision to let him go, with full veterinary support that it was the right thing to do. The team are heartbroken, but we will cherish the amazing life and experiences that we were blessed to share with our dear Eric.
A fitting tribute to Eric is that the photograph in the centre of the montage below was selected by the judges of this year’s 2024 Photography Competition as a winner. Gary Davies captured him perfectly, full of personality and it was his stare following you round the room and the position of his tufts that made the shot stand out for them. He was unique!
We have put together a few photos of Eric by (top left) Benjamin Mottershead, (bottom left) a very early photo we took at the park when he arrived as a baby, (middle) 2024 photo competition winner Gary Davies, (top right) Sue Smith and (bottom right) Gary Jones (Wildlife Photography).
Thank you for your understanding and for the love you’ve shown Eric over the years. He brought so much joy to our lives and the lives of others. We will miss him dearly.
For anyone who sponsored Eric, you will be receiving an email from the team shortly.
The Gauntlet Team
