Great Grey Rescued from Road

A Great Grey Owl is draped in a white towel in a clinical setting. A vet tech in royal blue scrubs holds the owl behind, while another clinician reaches over the owl's pronounced facial disk with a black glove to inspect feathers the way someone might stretch their arm over the backrest of a park bench. GGOW's eyes seem to be mismatched: one is amber and the other pale yellow, which might be due to the lighting, or a sign of eye damage. A single talon pokes up from a mess of feathers around the torso, looking like the owl is flipping the bird, so to speak, and I can't decipher what arrangement of feet would even make that possible (thankfully it's not due to the injury). The owl's stance points left of frame, and though strigiform eyes have very little movement in their sockets, this individual is doing a great job of giving side-eye to camera.

14th of Owltober!

Original post – 11 Apr 2024
by Think Wild Central Oregon

located in Bend, Oregon, US 🇺🇸
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Initial post – 11 April 2024:

Just this morning, a sheriff brought in an injured Great Gray Owl that was found in the middle of Highway 97 in La Pine.

We suspect that the owl was hit by a car, and injuries include eye trauma and bleeding and body and feet abrasions. The owl was placed in the oxygen chamber for 40 minutes prior to examination, and they are now receiving treatment in our ICU. The prognosis is extremely guarded, but we’ll keep you posted.

Great Gray Owls are Oregon Conservation Strategy Species that rely on large forested areas with montane grassland clearings for nesting and foraging. Loss of this type of late succession habitat is one of the main challenges facing this and many other species.

Recent research by scientists here in Oregon is further demonstrating that wildlife rehabilitation – and the successful rehab and release of individuals like this owl – can make a significant difference for conservation of local population levels, especially for endangered and threatened species

Upon rescue, the GGOW is perched on the passenger seat of a car looking at the photographer with astonishment. Red light from the stereo/radio unit bathes the owl and car interior with a pink glow on otherwise cold tones of blue and grey.

A commenter (with above pic attached):

I picked up this owl this morning! He was almost ran over several times, as soon as the cars cleared, I scooped it up. I am so thankful to the two sheriffs who helped transport it! This is the owl sitting in my passenger seat. Such a magnificent creature!


Next day update from Think Wild:

Our great grey owl patient is eating well!

Upon yesterday’s intake examination of this bird, Think Wild rehab staff found some eye damage and a possible clavicle fracture, both likely from being struck by a car.

Radiographs taken today confirmed multiple fractures in the owl’s shoulder girdle, and an eye examination confirmed eye trauma and vision loss. We’ll keep the owl on anti-inflammatory medications and cage rest for several weeks and hope these injuries can resolve over time. The owl’s prognosis is still extremely guarded.

We’re placing an order for a shipment of rodents to help feed our birds of prey this season! If you’re able to donate, your donation will help us purchase the rats and mice that our patients need to recover from their injuries and return to the wild.

Think Wild in a comment:

Owl is doing well. We do expect it to be a pretty long road to recovery since the shoulder girdle will take time to heal. Still eating well, which is a good sign. Thanks for checking in!

Follow up post – 27 April 2024:

Our great gray owl patient’s condition is gradually improving!

This morning, Think Wild performed a recheck examination of great gray owl 24-62.

🦉 The owl is very alert and reactive, perching normally, and fully self-feeding 🐀

🦉 The injured left eye is improving, and the right eye looks normal

🦉 The clavicle injury and bruising will need more time to heal

We plan to keep the owl on cage rest for about two weeks in a small outdoor enclosure injuries to resolve. We will then determine whether further radiographs are necessary or graduate the owl to a flight enclosure to build back stamina and practice catching live prey.
We are guardedly optimistic based on this owl’s progress so far! Please consider donating to help us purchase plenty of rats to keep this owl well-fed during their stay at Think Wild. 🐀

Final update – 30 May 2024

Great News! 🦉

Our great gray owl patient 24-62 has been released back to the wild!

This large nocturnal raptor was in Think Wild’s care since April 11 after being hit by a car, which caused several fractures in the owl’s shoulder girdle, as well as eye damage and severe bruising. Over time, the owl’s injuries improved and fractured bones healed. After passing several flight and live prey tests (including eating an unfortunate wild woodrat that made its way into the enclosure), the owl was cleared for release!

It was an extra special day because the owl’s rescuer, Applebaum Artistry was able to attend the release and caught some amazing photos of the bird as well. We’re so grateful to our amazing community for helping wildlife in need!

Four Panel photo of the GGOW being released: Top left: A baseball-capped human opens an owl-laden box to a grassy field with pines in the distance. The owl's head appears at the exit looking back at the former captor, as if to say, "Is this a trick?" Top right: The Great Grey Owl is in flight looking like a M117 demolition bomb, but one with feathers and self-propulsion. The background is a blur of green pine as if painted by an impressionist. Bottom left: The owl flies low to the ground with wings outstretched, doing their best imitation of sideways Tasmania. Bottom right: The owl stands in an open field, yellow eyes looking back to the release party. There's some white plumage on the owl's neckline with a square of black in the middle, like a reverse priest's collar. The owl looks at ease back in the wild.

Link to donate to Think Wild Central Oregon for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Strix nebulosaGreat Grey OwlWiki link

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