(NAPSA)—As fans of Harry Potter well know, Hedwig is an owl—a snowy owl. Sheis not just any owl, of course, as she carries messages for wizards. Hedwig’s talents aside, snowy owls are special creatures in their own right, with gleaming yellow eyes, pure white feathers and razor-sharp talons. As their name implies, these owls are at home in cold weather climates such as Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, where their thick feathers keep them warm during the winter and provide camouflage from predators. Unfortunately, snowy owls are threatened by the encroachment of humansin their territory, often colliding with automobiles or utility lines. Their habitat is also at risk from oil drilling. Currently, America’s greatest wildlife sanctuary, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is under consideration for oil exploration. The impact of such drilling would harm snowyowls, as well as wolves, polar bears, countless migratory birds and otherwildlife. Although the oil industry is spending millions of dollars to open this pristine sanctuary, Defenders of Wildlife, a national conservation organization, is working to protect it and its wildlife. You can help with a taxdeductible donation. For $25 ($35 if outside the United States), you'll receive a plush stuffed toy owl and a year’s subscription to Defenders magazine to keep you informed of the wide range of threats to wildlife and their habitat. You can learn more about snowy owls or makea contribution online by going to, www.saveowls.org. You can also write to Defenders of Wildlife, 1101 Fourteenth Street, NW, Suite 1400, Washing- ton, D.C., 20005-5605, and include a note saying your gift is to help save the snowy owl, or call 1-800385-9712. Defenders of Wildlife also hopes that, like Hedwig, you will help by passing this message alongto a friend. Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation’s more progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With almost 500,000 supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues. To learn more, visit www. defenders.org.
