From the Illinois Raptor Center
We’ve previously posted about this Eastern Screech Owl who was found at an interstate exit likely having been hit by a car, at the beginning of November.
When he came in he was falling over, shaking, had a head tilt, couldn’t keep his eyes open well and had poor response to light in his eyes, and was just in very bad shape. We had him in our ICU on oxygen for a while as well as anti-inflammatory pain meds, as they was evidence of head trauma from his injuries, and he improved quite a bit over time. We got him moved out to one of our smal flights set up for screech owls and kestrels to work on building up his flight strength again, and he spent the next few months eating well and getting better at flight.
Earlier this week it was time! He was given an exit exam, fitted with his USGS band, and our executive director Jane took him out to a spot she uses for releasing these little guys where there are plenty of resources for them. He had strong opinions about being grabbed up for all this, but now hes back out in the wild where he belongs. Good luck little guy!
All wrapped up to keep him from thrashing and fighting during his exam. This just serves as an extra set of hands to hold him still so the exam can be safer for him and us. But as an eastern screech owl, he’s just a little handful of a bird when all wrapped up!
Wow that expression lol like The Brain when his plans to take over the world are foiled once again.
The jacket does give him the proper shape!
When he first came in, this screech owl couldn’t hold his eyes open all the way and didn’t have good vision out of either, plus he was unsteady and falling over without support due to his head trauma. Quite an improvement from then to now when he’s fully recovered and free!
The red Eastern Screech Owl glaring back at me from where put him in his transport carrier for release. He doesn’t understand that we’re doing this to get him back out to freedom.
Showing off his shiny new band, samples from this Eastern screech owl, and any data we get if and when the band is read and reported later on, will help us to better understand their movements and health and help to better help their species.
Came here for owl in a straitjacket and was not disappointed. Thank you for sharing this story!
Glad it met your expectations!
Screech on, my dude
This is an impressive amount of effort put into saving such a tiny creature.
It is! I don’t know how all these places afford to do it. It constantly shocks me these places don’t receive any public money for what they do.
And yet it is both good and right.
It’s shocking that good and right exist! :D
