Snowy Owl Pair

A Snowy Owl is wrapped in a patterned towel, with wide yellow eyes looking at the camera.

Original post – 18 Feb 2019

by Raptor Education Group, Inc.
located in Antigo, Wisconsin

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Soon after the year began, we admitted a Snowy Owl from Westfield. She had accidentally drenched herself in liquid manure in a barn. Gratefully, the farmer was alert, got her out of the mess and called REGI for help. This skinny little lady was a real mess when she was admitted. Her prognosis was guarded, but she did well. She has doubled her weight as of yesterday. The scrawny Snowy owl kid weighed only 750 grams and now tips the scales at 2580 grams. We worried a great deal about the feathers that she lost and the quality of the feathers that she retains following the manure saturating event. The great news is things are looking great for her. We want to test the waterproofing of her feathers during the week, but as of today she is in a larger flight as she can start exercising for release.

Our famous adult male Snowy Owl Coddington was admitted to REGI after he ran into trouble, also with involving cow manure, in Plover, Wisconsin. Coddington was part of Project Snowstorm, a superb Snowy Owl research and conservation project. [A farmer] found and rescued him and got him to REGI for care. Coddington was low in weight and injured suffering contusions on his wing and body, as well as had cow manure on part of his perfect plumage. We are delighted to report that Coddington is doing well and has also gained weight. He was admitted at 1500 grams and as of yesterday weighed 1668 grams. That is a normal weight for a male Snowy Owl. His feathers are recovering well, and he also is in the larger flight developing his flight muscles for release.

The Snowy Owl turns his head to look up at the handler who is wearing a dark fleece pullover emblazoned with the REGI logo, and a pair of blue medical gloves. A taloned foot appears, looking particularly zylodactyl.
The second Snowy Owl is swaddled in a curry powder orange towel, with face and tail feathers emerging above and below. The handler wears light-blue medical gloves and a dark pine green weatherproof jacket with the REGI logo.
The same owl is now unwrapped and horizontal, being cushioned by the towel so she may be examined on a benchtop.
A close-up of the owl's face, side on and looking rather regal (as much as one can while being examined).
The owl is on her back, inside a plastic tray forming part of a set of scales.
The two Snowy Owls, side by side, are held by handlers in winter gear outside the clinic on a snow-covered path. Each owl is bundled in a towel: one faded-coral, the other patterned with Spongebob Squarepants paraphernalia.

Link to donate to Raptor Education Group, Inc. for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo scandiacusSnowy OwlWiki link

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