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CAPE WILDLIFE CENTER ©2007
The screech owl recovers at the Cape Wildlife Center. |
Imagine…an owl probably out hunting just before dawn, looking for his last meal of the night. Something moves along the side of the road; the owl quickly swoops down to catch it, and WHAM… the owl is hit by a car. It could have been the end of his life, but for this owl it was the beginning of a remarkable journey.
The call came into the Cape Wildlife Center in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from a local veterinarian's office. A woman had rescued a "baby owl" hit by a car. In early January the chances of the injured animal being a baby owl were slim, and indeed when the owl's rescuer arrived with him, staff speculations about the sixth patient of the new year proved correct. He was an Eastern Screech Owl, one of the smallest owl species. These owls are primarily just eight to ten inches and weigh between six and seven ounces (the Ninepipes Center for Wildlife Research and Education).
The owl was immediately examined and appeared to be stressed but did not have any open wounds, fractures, or any internal bleeding. His eyes were closed, his head drooped, and he couldn't stand up. He was given warm fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and propped up in a towel "doughnut" to keep him upright. He was incredibly fortunate that nothing was broken and there was no internal bleeding, but what a headache he must have had!
Conscience Saved the Owl
Meanwhile, the rescuer relayed the background story. She had noticed something odd stuck in the grill of an adjacent car as she was parking. Since she was late for a job interview, she didn't investigate but hurried into the building. After her appointment, she returned to the parking lot and found the suspect SUV was still there. Only then did she go over to satisfy her curiosity. She was shocked to see an owl stuck headfirst in the SUV's front grill.
A man got out of a nearby car and told her that the bird was alive; he had just seen it moving. Working together, the two rescuers pried the grill apart, moving it only a fraction of an inch but enough to free the bird. The young woman, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, told Cape Wildlife staff that owls are important animals in native lore and that she was honored to help this little creature.
Within two days of his admission to our wildlife center, the owl was eating mice and perching. By his fourth day he was very active, and on the fifth day in the clinic he was flying and ready to move outside to the mews, a large raptor aviary. He was flying well, landing without difficulty, and eating.
A little over two weeks from admission, the owl was ready for release. It was owl mating season, and time for this survivor to get out there. But, where was his territory? Animals are released back into the areas they come from—but no one knew where he had been hit or how far he had ridden stuck in the vehicle's grill. He was released in the town where he was found but on conservation land with good forest cover.
Spring is mating season for most animals, and drivers should be especially careful as animals are on the move looking for mates. Dusk and dawn are times to be especially vigilant. This is the story of one small animal who could have been saved from injury if the vehicle had been traveling just one mile less per hour. Help wildlife by slowing down when driving in areas where wildlife may be present, and don't assume that every bird escapes your rapidly moving vehicle. When you can, pull over in a safe area and make sure your vehicle is clear of injured wildlife.
Related Links
Read more about other animals who received care at the Cape Wildlife Center after colliding with a vehicle.
Offsite Links
Read some suggestions about driving with wildlife in mind.
Posted February 20, 2007
