Keeping the "wild" in Wildlife

Five young owls were received in the past week for rehabilitation.  A few of these juvenile owls were injured or sick; others may have been pushed out of the nest early.  The challenge of raising these young owls, is to keep them from becoming habituated to people, and to help them retain their fear of humans, dogs, and predators.  They will need to learn to hunt for their food, choose the right habitat, communitcate with their own species, and display correct behavior for their species.  Much of this is made easier through the use of foster parents.  Adult owls of the same species will help to raise the young.

This young Barred Owl was given a partial nest box.  He hides behind the wall when people approach.  We are able to gain access if needed but otherwise, he is left to associate with his own species.  The foster parent is in a cage on the left.

From this view, you can see the foster parent (Wilma), and the juvenile in the background (Willie).  When the youngster can fly, both owls will live in a flight cage as the young owl learns hunting techniques from the adult owl.

Into the Mist

A Short-eared owl was turned in to us by an Isabella County Sherrif Deputy last fall.  Short-eared Owls are rare in Michigan, and are one of the most beautiful owls that exist.  Photographs do not do them justice.

Above, Barb Rogers (left) and Joanne Williams (right) examine the owl's injuries.  A fracture in the radius/ulna had rendered her unable to fly.  However, Dr. White was able to splint the wing, and she slowly healed over the winter and exercised in one of our large outdoor flight cages.

Short-eared Owls nest in the far North in open fields on the ground.  Although they sometimes nest in Michigan, they are extremely rare.  Great Horned Owls, also an open country owl, would drive them away, if found in the same territory.  For this reason, we released her in the Upper Peninsula, on one of our trips north to monitor peregrine falcons in early spring.  The release area has been known to have no Great Horned Owls.

She flew into the wind in the mist from the top of the cliff at Lake of the Clouds.  From there, she could locate the valley where the habitat was right for her.

By the next day, the mist had cleared and the ice had melted away.  The east end of  Lake of the Clouds, a remote valley at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park may be her new home.