Young Great Horned Owl Overcomes Trauma And Parasites

The following story was shared with us by Tri-State Bird Rescue And Research in Delaware.

A woman’s barking dogs alerted her to a great horned owl that was grounded in tall grass near the edge of a river. The concerned citizen was able to rescue the raptor and bring it to Tri-State Bird Rescue for care. A thorough examination revealed that the immature owl had fractured bones in one of its feet, multiple lacerations, and was infested with flat flies.

Our wildlife veterinarian stabilized the fractures with a custom sandal and sutured the bird’s lacerations while it was under anesthesia. It was also treated for the flies. The owl was having issues with regurgitation during his first few days in care, but was able to keep down gavage tubings of EmerAid IC Carnivore, likely due to how easily digestible this product is.

In cases like this, we might not know what caused the injuries, but we do know how to treat them. In the beginning of its rehabilitation, the owl had to be hand-fed. With time, the great horned owl slowly recovered, began eating on its own, and the foot fractures continued to calcify.

After two months of professional care, the first-year owl demonstrated it was fully recovered and ready for release. After such a long rehabilitation, it was a joy to see the young owl set free in its territory to continue its life as nature intended!