Soon to be released rescued Barred Owl tries to look intimidating at the Witter Wildlife Refuge. Photo by James Orr

Recently released Red Screech Owl survived barbed wire encounter but is blind in one eye. Photo by James Orr

Saturday we released a Screech Owl that has been in recuperation for almost two months.  He was one of four Owls we received in the last 60 days that had been caught in barbed wire fences in four different situations.  Of the four owls, two  died from their injuries.

Unfortunately the Screech Owl is blind in one eye as a result of his injuries. If he had been a hawk, falcon or eagle all of which have eyes located on the sides of their head the loss of an eye would have made him unreleasable since half his field of vision would be gone.  Fortunately, owls have both eyes in the front of their head and the images converge.  Although the loss of one eye will distort his depth perception he will still have most of his normal field of vision.  Additionally owls use their incredible sense of hearing to hunt to compliment their keen vision.  They can actually shape the feathers around their ears into radar dish shapes to zero in on the faintest sounds. One ear is also higher on the head than the other allowing them to distinguish from sounds above or below them without having to tilt their head.

The other surviving owl is a very large Barred Owl.  He was so badly tangled in barbed wire more than half the flight feathers on one wing were dislocated.  They had been turned, twisted, bent and broken so severely it appeared the wing was broken in multiple places.   We were able to rearrange most of his feathers back into place by carefully untangling them from each other despite the owls desire to rearrange our fingers in the process.

For the first week of rehab he was unable to use his injured wing. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public buildings have handicapped access such as wheel chair ramps.  Although I was not too worried about getting an ADA citation for an owl we modified the branches in the owl cage so that several touched the ground allowing the handicapped raptor to climb up the limbs to his perch.  Like most birds Owls are very uncomfortable on the ground and only relax when perched above potential predators.

Although the owl has a gap in his right wing where several flight feathers are missing he has started flying around his cage in the last few days.  We will be able to release him within the few days and the missing feathers are already growing back.

Many animals respond to potential threats by trying to look intimidating.  The Barred Owl is no exception.  When I enter his cage to bring him food he puffs up his wings trying to look twice his normal size.  He also opens his mouth and hisses or makes loud clicking sounds at the same time.  Not exactly an invitation to cuddle.  I guess that's one way to avoid getting a check from the waiter.

DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount  it is greatly appreciated.  Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.

See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife