Animal shots of the week

A barred owl is carried by a volunteer after it was examined by a veterinary technician at the Raptor Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. The center listed about 30 owls as patients this week. It has been a tough winter for owls in some parts of North America. Some have headed south in search of food instead of staying in their northern territories. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)