TEN weeks ago these barn owls looked like balls of pink fluff.

Now, despite what their heart-shaped faces may suggest, they are deadly rodent killers.

Snap, along with her sister Crackle and brother Pop, are the newest arrivals at Wheatley Birds of Prey, and are already flaunting their deadly talons at live shows.

Husband and wife Jayne and Clive Jones, who run the sanctuary at Ladder Hill, said they were delighted with the owls’ progress.

Mrs Jones, 46, said: “It doesn’t matter how many you have, they’re all characters, they all have their own ways just like children. Pop is the shy one, maybe because he has two sisters.

“Snap is definitely the most forward, she is always the first for food.”

In the wild, barn owls are mainly nocturnal, and mainly feed on rodents like voles, mice and rats.

Mr and Mrs Jones have run their centre for two years, realising a lifelong dream of one-time hobbyist Mr Jones.

The centre is free to visitors.

Find out more at the website wheatleybirds ofprey.com

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