Video: Vulture gets pumpkin surprise for Halloween
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The University of Minnesota Raptor Center recently gave its resident turkey vulture, a 40-year-old fellow named Nero, a Halloween treat.
The center's education program manager, Gail Buhl, placed strips of raw rat meat inside a jack-o'-lantern.
It gave the raptor an experience similar to what he'd have in the wild — sticking his head inside a carcass to pull out some dinner.
The Raptor Center staff carved a hole in the back of the pumpkin so MPR News reporter Tim Post was able to capture the action with a GoPro camera.
The center staff occasionally uses pumpkins and other seasonally available produce as an enrichment tool. It presents the captive birds with a bit of a challenge and serves as a way to keep their minds sharp.
Nero was hatched in Wisconsin 1974 and was raised in captivity. He's one of the birds the center uses in its public education demonstrations.
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