A Barred Owl with an Eye Injury

Oftentimes, we don’t know a patient’s history before admittance to our hospital, as in the case of Patient #25895, a female Barred Owl. After a thorough exam, we discovered that she had experienced a traumatic event. Her injuries –  fractured bones, eye trauma in both eyes, and soft tissue wounds on her wing and leg – indicate she likely collided with a car.

Her fractures and soft tissue wounds healed during her stay, but the eye trauma, a condition called chorioretinitis (inflammation affecting the back parts of the eye) caused partial permanent vision loss. Owls have large eyes, enabling them to see and hunt in low light levels, but they rely on their incredible sense of hearing as much, or more so, than their eyesight! Because of this, owls with partial vision loss may be candidates for release back into the wild.

For some patients, “mouse school” is one of the final stages of rehabilitation to ensure they can see and hear well enough to hunt and survive after release. After a trial of live prey testing, this Barred Owl passed with flying colors by successfully hunting and even gaining weight! The kind person who rescued her helped release her to her original habitat in Mooresville, NC!  

Patient #25895’s critical care totaled $2,513.20, and unfortunately, our avian patients can’t foot their own medical bills! If you want to support this patient and others like her, consider donating today.