Owl Update

So on Saturday, I return to the woods to finish mowing, and the Great Horned Owl has returned.  No better - still unable to fly off.

So I call the Wildcat Creek Rehabilitation Center and leave a message.  They call back, like 5 times.  They have no one to come retrieve the owl but are VERY interested in getting it rehabilitated.  They indicate the "best" method for capture that is safe for both me and the critter.

Alex and I finish mowing and then capture the bird.  The best method is to put an enclosure over the bird and then slide something underneath.

I suggest that Alex should perform these duties as the opportunity to ever do so again might never come in his lifetime.  I said that I would film it.  Alex asked, "Do you want me to grab the bird?"  Of course I said YES hoping that we could win $10k.  Alex said, oh well, at least if I get attacked it will be on film.  Sadly, I communicated the proper method.

It was an easy catch.  We taped the lid down sideways so that the bird had air.  We put it in the back seat of the car, so it did not overheat in the trunk.  And then we drove to the boonies to deliver the owl.

The Wildcat Creek center is located NE of Delphi and W of Camden in Carroll County.  You have to be looking for this place to find it.

We arrived and went to check-in the bird.  The intern that processed the owl agreed with our assessment that the wings and feet were fine.  She also stated that the bird hissed and tried to bite her.  She did notice that the "third eyelid," the one that closes horizontally (anyone say Men in Black?) had some scarring that would need looked after.

We are to wait two weeks and call back to check on progress.  If the bird is well enough to be released, we can pick it up and return it to our woods.  So at this point, it's a waiting game.

Here's a link to YouTube (TM) to watch Alex box the owl up - 13 seconds.  This is a private video that cannot be 'searched' and found.  You can only get there by having access to this link.

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEI4Fa-W1Q&feature=youtu.be


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