The Wildlife Center is sad to announce the death of Briscoe, an education Great Horned Owl, on June 28, 2016.
During the weekend of June 25, Briscoe began behaving abnormally in his enclosure; he was quieter than usual and intermittently perched on the ground or a low A-frame perch. On Sunday, June 26, outreach volunteer Shelly went to check on Briscoe and weigh him, and found that Briscoe was extremely weak. Dr. Dana, the Center’s veterinary intern, immediately examined Briscoe and found a large mass in his gastrointestinal tract. Drs. Dana and Helen took Briscoe to surgery on June 27 and found remnants of a towel, which was likely placed in his enclosure for enrichment. While the surgery went well, Briscoe passed away during the recovery process.
Briscoe came to the Wildlife Center in September 2010 after he was found trapped in a chimney for two weeks. Briscoe was emaciated when he was admitted to the Center, and had carpal [wrist] injuries on both wings due to his struggle to get out of the chimney. After months of rehabilitation and assessment, the veterinary staff determined that Briscoe was no longer able to extend his left wing completely, which also made him noisy during flight. In May 2013, Briscoe was welcomed as an official education animal ambassador. A naming contest was held and Briscoe was named for the chimney sweep who helped rescue him in 2010.
Since officially joining the corps of education ambassadors, Briscoe helped the outreach staff teach 404 programs to more than 13,000 people. Adults and children were often captivated by Briscoe’s large stature and piercing gaze. Briscoe most recently participated in an off-site school program in Charlottesville. He was one of three animals featured in a Legends of the Night program, a presentation about owls and their adaptations.
Thanks, Briscoe, for your service to the Wildlife Center. You will be missed.
