A Great Horned Owl is recovering at a Lower Mainland rehabilitation centre after colliding with a windshield near 100 Mile House last month.

Local wildlife photographer Murray Zelt, who is also a volunteer with Delta-based Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation (OWL), said his nephew Matt Pistell called him after he hit the owl on his way home from hockey. Pistell told him it hit the windshield so hard he thought it was going to smash the glass.

含羞草研究社淲hen he picked it up it didn含羞草研究社檛 even seem like it was alive,含羞草研究社� Zelt said. 含羞草研究社淎nd then it came to and he was freaking out and got hold of my sister who told him to get hold of me, being a volunteer for this rehab centre in Delta.含羞草研究社�

Zelt said he has a pet carrier loaned to him by OWL for catching injured raptors although this is the first time in the past three years he has had a reason to use it. He said he has a fascination for owls and was awed when his nephew brought the bird to the house.

含羞草研究社淚t was so surreal.含羞草研究社�

Zelt said it was touch and go at first as the owl had suffered head trauma. But after speaking with the rescue facility, he said the bird - he and his nephew called it Lucky - appears to be improving. The fear of bleeding in the head or internal injuries does not seem to be as much of a concern now, he said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been eating which is really good news,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t didn含羞草研究社檛 eat the first day or two but maybe because of the shock and the head trauma, obviously I guess, and the lady said now it is eating mice, maybe two or three a day.含羞草研究社�

The owl is also not happy with people coming near, which is good as they do not want it to become habituated.

含羞草研究社淲hen (the rescue operator) goes near its enclosure it hisses and it starts getting agitated and moving around and giving her the eye.含羞草研究社�

However, he said there is a concern the owl might be blind in the right eye as the pupil was oblong in shape rather than the normal circle. He含羞草研究社檚 also worried about her feet, as they are the Great Horned Owl含羞草研究社檚 most important weapon when hunting. He said Lucky is favouring one leg and may have a small fracture.

含羞草研究社淭heir talons are huge, they are the fiercest and strongest owl of all the owl species. They can do 200-400 psi pressure with their talons.含羞草研究社�

Zelt said that he was told it will take time for the owl to heal but it could be released in the spring. He hopes he can collect the owl and bring her back to the South Cariboo to be reintroduced into the wild.

含羞草研究社淚t would be super cool.含羞草研究社�

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fiona.grisswell@100milefreepress.net
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