Burrowing owl found wrapped up in plastic
By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital
A burrowing owl was among the 98 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include a pileated woodpecker, a great crested flycatcher, a common gallinule, a nine-banded armadillo and a black racer.
A Marco Island resident contacted Alli Smith, Owl Watch Project Manager and Biologist with Audubon of the Western Everglades (AWE) after seeing this burrowing owl chick in distress. The chick had a bundled mass of plastic entangled around its right leg.
Alli wasn’t in the area, but contacted a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) who was near the burrow site and able to respond immediately. The officer located the chick and confirmed the owl was entangled and in need of assistance. Alli went to the location but the first attempt to trap the owl was unsuccessful. A return trip to the burrow was made later in the evening. While FWC helped with crowd control and public education, Alli focused on trapping the owl resulting in immediate success. At that point, Alli transported the owl to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital for medical attention.
Hospital staff carefully removed the plastic from the owl’s leg. The plastic had been tightly wrapped around the leg causing a constriction wound and lameness. Pain medications, Chinese herbs, and antibiotics were administered. Laser therapy was performed at the wound site and a Manuka honey bandage was applied to the wound to aid in healing. The owl was placed in an animal intensive care unit to rest.
After several days of supportive care, laser therapy and wound management, the constriction wound no longer required bandaging. A degree of lameness in the right leg is still noticeable but the owl is eating on its own allowing staff to keep handling to a minimum.
This burrowing owl is one of several owls admitted from Marco Island within the past two weeks. As the burrowing owl population on Marco Island continues to grow, the dangers they face increase as well. The partnership between the community of Marco Island, AWE staff and volunteers, FWC, and the Conservancy is vital to ensure the health and safety of the owl population.
Recent Releases
Two fish crows, an eastern cottontail, a mourning dove, an American redstart, a Cooper’s hawk, two northern mockingbirds, six blue jays, an eastern screech owl, a red-bellied woodpecker, an osprey, a royal tern, three Virginia opossums and two raccoons were released this past week.
Opportunities to Help
Support the Conservancy’s mission to protect native wildlife. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital is hosting a virtual Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower on Saturday, June 6 to raise awareness and support for the hospital’s youngest patients. Donate gifts online through the Conservancy’s Amazon Wish List through the month of June.
You can also donate to our von Arx Wildlife Hospital Facebook Fundraiser.
