Short-Eared Owl Downed By Possible Car Strike

The following story about a short-eared owl was submitted by Kent Wildlife Rehabilitation in Idaho.

An adult, short-eared owl was reported down in the middle of a road and picked up by Fish and Game.

The owl appeared to have suffered blunt force trauma, possibly from being hit by a car. Injuries included ruptured air sacs, ruptured blood vessels in the right eye, blood in the nasal cavity and from the nares, and possible concussion. The bird’s initial weight was 250 grams (about 8.8 ounces) with a body condition score of 3.

The owl was treated with 0.07 Enrofloxacin antibiotic by mouth once a day for 10 days and 0.08 Metacam, an NSAID, by mouth once a day for four days. For nutrition, 10 ml dilute EmerAid IC Carnivore was gavage fed.

Fortunately he began eating small pieces of force-fed then hand-fed mice shortly after being taken in. The owl began eating on its own after four days.

After one month of care the air sacs were still crunchy, but the owl was doing well. The bird was moved to an outside mew and released one month later.