Saving Them All – Watson, the Great Horned Owl by Patricia Benik
I have a passion for raptors and I would like nothing better than to save each and every incredibly beautiful one of them that comes to me for care. I know though that sometimes when they are horribly broken, the kindest thing I can do is to let them go.
We adhere to rules of what we can and cannot release, but I have come to discover that the most important creature to listen to is my patient. This is how I came to push what is accepted practice with each raptor that I handle.
On July 10th of 2013, a Great Horned Owl was hit by a car in the Pioneer area. It was brought into the Feed Barn to the Tri County Wildlife intake area. I picked him up and brought him into my care.
His right eye was swollen and filled with blood. He also had some primary feather damage. Otherwise he appeared to be a healthy bird. He was given fluids and started on pain medication. Then put in a dark quiet area. He was offered some mice the next day and he ate very well. In a few days he was stable.
He was taken to the Animal Eye Center in Rocklin. His first visit was inconclusive as there was still a lot of swelling. So he was to continue on eye medicine and the pain medicine as well. He was to return to the doctor in 2 weeks.
During this time he became stronger and much harder to handle. He was not a happy bird when it came time to take his medicine. This is the way they should be.
His next doctor’s appointment was not good news for him. He had little to no vision in his right eye. His pupil did respond to light so it was possible that he could see shadows. But he was a healthy bird that might be releasable if he could still fly and hunt well.
He was started outside in a small flight cage. His flight was not perfect but there was hope. He was eating and getting stronger. All I could do was give him time. Some take more time than others.
He went to larger flight cages, and I watched as his flight became very accurate. He was flying as well as any Great Horned Owl., landing appropriately on the perches in the cage. The only thing left to test him on was live mice.
He was slow to catch his own food. I will say I was getting worried. This was the last thing keeping him in a cage.
We use a tub to put the mice in. If he can catch in the tub, then he has a good chance to be free. It is the same for all our raptors.
Soon he was eating anywhere from 5 to 8 mice a night. He was as good as any owl with vision from both eyes. So on the 10th of October he was released. He sat for a little while, looked around and flew off. We don’t always get to release birds that are blind in one eye. They don’t always get their perception back, which makes flying and catching rodents impossible. This can make release impossible.
I wish him the best. I think he will do just fine, or I wouldn’t have released him. Watson the Great Horned Owl was given a second chance at freedom.
I have a passion for raptors and I would like nothing better than to save each and every incredibly beautiful one of them that comes to me for care. I know though that sometimes when they are horribly broken, the kindest thing I can do is to let them go.
We adhere to rules of what we can and cannot release, but I have come to discover that the most important creature to listen to is my patient. This is how I came to push what is accepted practice with each raptor that I handle.
On July 10th of 2013, a Great Horned Owl was hit by a car in the Pioneer area. It was brought into the Feed Barn to the Tri County Wildlife intake area. I picked him up and brought him into my care.
His right eye was swollen and filled with blood. He also had some primary feather damage. Otherwise he appeared to be a healthy bird. He was given fluids and started on pain medication. Then put in a dark quiet area. He was offered some mice the next day and he ate very well. In a few days he was stable.
He was taken to the Animal Eye Center in Rocklin. His first visit was inconclusive as there was still a lot of swelling. So he was to continue on eye medicine and the pain medicine as well. He was to return to the doctor in 2 weeks.
During this time he became stronger and much harder to handle. He was not a happy bird when it came time to take his medicine. This is the way they should be.
His next doctor’s appointment was not good news for him. He had little to no vision in his right eye. His pupil did respond to light so it was possible that he could see shadows. But he was a healthy bird that might be releasable if he could still fly and hunt well.
He was started outside in a small flight cage. His flight was not perfect but there was hope. He was eating and getting stronger. All I could do was give him time. Some take more time than others.
He went to larger flight cages, and I watched as his flight became very accurate. He was flying as well as any Great Horned Owl., landing appropriately on the perches in the cage. The only thing left to test him on was live mice.
He was slow to catch his own food. I will say I was getting worried. This was the last thing keeping him in a cage.
We use a tub to put the mice in. If he can catch in the tub, then he has a good chance to be free. It is the same for all our raptors.
Soon he was eating anywhere from 5 to 8 mice a night. He was as good as any owl with vision from both eyes. So on the 10th of October he was released. He sat for a little while, looked around and flew off. We don’t always get to release birds that are blind in one eye. They don’t always get their perception back, which makes flying and catching rodents impossible. This can make release impossible.
I wish him the best. I think he will do just fine, or I wouldn’t have released him. Watson the Great Horned Owl was given a second chance at freedom.
