Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center

Another Lucky Owl

On this particular Saturday Morning, we were experiencing one of our Northwestern Pennsylvania's typical snowstorms. The visibility was poor, since the neighbor's barn and house could not be seen.

The phone rang, and a voice was not too hesitant to say, I have not heard from you, and we have a downed owl in our backyard. It has been there since yesterday. I was puzzled because we had 3 owl calls the night before, and had received all.

Checking the answering machine, there were not any calls. Needless to say the message on the answering machine is much shorter and less confusing, since the person was confused by all the numbers left on it.

Come to find out, the person who called the wife of someone I knew from work, at Channellock, Inc. Directions were given to their house south of Shaeakleyville. They would keep a close watch on it until I arrived, and captured it.

With the roads and weather conditions, it took a while to arrive to the house, even with a trusty 4-wheel dive truck.

From the road, the house was at least 300-400 yards, and the owl was behind the house in a ravine, next to a stream.

At first glance, and from a distance, it looked like one of the wings was drooping, which could indicate a broken wing. However, after carefully going through some jaggedy thickets, to reach the owl that was perched on small branches and briars, it was discovered that there were balls of frozen ice on the tips of each wing and tail feathers. The head was drifting a little bit. The head drifting is a sing of brain swelling usually due to an impact.

The owl, which was trying to bite while it was being held, was carefully placed in a box, and put inside the truck to keep warm on the transport back to the center.

Once the owl was examined, it was given a shot to help prevent swelling, and shock. It was tubed to restore body fluids, and placed in a box where it was dark, warm and quiet.

It recovered slowly, and was able to fly without any problems. However it did show loss of balance (again due to the head injury).

Owls are low flying birds, an often they are hit by cars. They do have a very good chance of survival, if treated. If not, they either starve to death, or die from brain swelling. They are not often hunted by other predators because of their "not so nice temperament."

Finally, after building flight stamina in an outside enclosure, it was ready to release The family was called, and arrangements were made to release the owl near the same location it was found. That way the owl would be familiar with the are, and if it had a mate, it would be reunited before breeding season.

The night was still with very little wind blowing as we arrived at the site. The owl was taken out of the box, and was shown to the family. This gave me a chance to educate them on barred owls, and their anatomical features and behaviors. This only lasted a short time, as the owl was getting anxious.

We walked to the edge of the ravine to release it. This was an exciting time for all involved. Those that found it were able to understand that these animals can be saved through their efforts of finding a wildlife rehabilitator. Those who cared for it, to be able to know the rehabilitation was a success, and efforts to save it were so worthwhile.

As the owl was lifted in the air, it spread its wings and flew in silent flight to a tree 40 feet away and landed on a brach 60 feet high. Six people were holding their breath, waiting in anticipation of seeing an owl, that one does not have a chance to see in their lifetime, fly back for a second chance. Now that was impressive!!!