Great Horned Owl #08-0525

PATIENT:  Great Horned Owl, #08-0525 LOCATION:  Roanoke, Virginia INJURYEntangled in barbed wire fence; eye, tissue injuries ADMISSION DATE:  May 1, 2008 PROGNOSIS:  Non-releasable; evaluation as possible Center education animal This adult Great Horned Owl was found in Roanoke, caught in a barbed wire fence.  Upon admission, Center veterinarians found soft-tissue injuries on the bird’s right wing, a wound on the right side of the owl’s neck, and corneal ulcers on both eyes.  The ulcers were treated with eye drops, and the wounds cleaned and bandaged. During the next few weeks, the wing and neck injuries healed well; despite aggressive treatment, the ulcer in the right eye kept recurring.  In April 2009, Center veterinarians surgically removed the damaged eye. In addition, the owl is missing many primary feathers on the right wing.  These feathers start to grow in … and then fall out.  While a healthy Great Horned Owl flies silently, because of its missing feathers #08-0525 is quite loud in flight – seriously compromising its ability to hunt successfully. Because of these conditions, #08-0525 was declared non-releasable in early 2010.  The bird is currently being evaluated as a possible addition to the Center’s roster of education animals.  The Great Horned Owl was moved to one of the education enclosures in February 2010 and began training in March. The primary trainer for this bird is Dani Stumbo, one of the Center’s wildlife rehabilitators; the secondary trainer is Kelly Rourke, the Center’s Education Coordinator.  The training process has many steps and is gradual – having trainers in its enclosure; approaching; touching feet; eating with trainers in the enclosure.  In August #08-0525 began stepping one foot onto the glove; within the past two weeks the owl has progressed to fully stepping up [both feet] onto the glove and staying there until it is told to perch.  Although the owl is still somewhat nervous and reluctant, progress is being made.  Next steps include developing increasing familiarity and ease with stepping on the glove, and staying on the glove while the trainer walks around the owl’s enclosure.    Meet the neighbors ...  #08-0585 is currently housed next to Buzz, another Great Horned Owl and a veteran Center education animal -- he's been at the Center since 1998.  Learn more about Buzz. Your special donation will help support the Center’s work with this Great Horned Owl ... and the veterinary care we provide to 2,500 wild animals in need each year.