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Vets say owl’s eyes injured in trauma
Hooter, the wayward owl who spent several days at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital, will likely live out its days in a zoo somewhere, according to a spokeswoman for the Dickerson Park Zoo.
The barred owl was found on the side of the road about three weeks ago by hospital employee Steve Schneickert and fed field mice and other small animals by hospital Groundskeeper Don Kittrell.
The owl lived part of the time on a perch with a large box on it built by Kittrell and mounted in the central courtyard at McCune-Brooks until she flew away last Monday.
Kittrell said he found her on the roof and watched her fly again, but when she tried to land, she hit the ground hard and rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Melinda Arnold, a spokeswoman for Dickerson Park Zoo, said the Zoo’s Staff Veterinarian Dr. Erica Wilson examined Hooter, as Kittrell named the bird, and determined it was likely hit by a car, a common source of injuries for owls.
Arnold said the collision caused trauma in the owl’s eyes, including retinal damage in one eye and lens damage in the other.
“While the bird has no physical damage to its wings, and it flies very well, the impaired vision makes it impossible to release this bird back into the wild,” Arnold said in an e-mail to the Carthage Press. “Our staff is working through the appropriate state and federal agencies to find a good home for the bird, very likely another zoo.”
Arnold said Wilson couldn’t determine conclusively whether the owl is male or female without extensive and expensive blood tests.
She said the owl is a mature bird, meaning at least 18 months old.
Doctors have determined the owl at the very least can’t see very well and may well be blind.
“To feed her, we have to put the food right under her foot before she can find it,” Arnold said. “The damage to the bird’s eyes is quite extensive.”
Arnold said Hooter was still at Dickerson Park Zoo as of Tuesday, but the State Department of Conservation, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department will determine where she lives out her days.
“We’re not equipped to keep here, so it’ll have to go somewhere else,” Arnold said.
Vets say owl’s eyes injured in trauma
Hooter, the wayward owl who spent several days at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital, will likely live out its days in a zoo somewhere, according to a spokeswoman for the Dickerson Park Zoo.
The barred owl was found on the side of the road about three weeks ago by hospital employee Steve Schneickert and fed field mice and other small animals by hospital Groundskeeper Don Kittrell.
The owl lived part of the time on a perch with a large box on it built by Kittrell and mounted in the central courtyard at McCune-Brooks until she flew away last Monday.
Kittrell said he found her on the roof and watched her fly again, but when she tried to land, she hit the ground hard and rolled several times before coming to a stop.
Melinda Arnold, a spokeswoman for Dickerson Park Zoo, said the Zoo’s Staff Veterinarian Dr. Erica Wilson examined Hooter, as Kittrell named the bird, and determined it was likely hit by a car, a common source of injuries for owls.
Arnold said the collision caused trauma in the owl’s eyes, including retinal damage in one eye and lens damage in the other.
“While the bird has no physical damage to its wings, and it flies very well, the impaired vision makes it impossible to release this bird back into the wild,” Arnold said in an e-mail to the Carthage Press. “Our staff is working through the appropriate state and federal agencies to find a good home for the bird, very likely another zoo.”
Arnold said Wilson couldn’t determine conclusively whether the owl is male or female without extensive and expensive blood tests.
She said the owl is a mature bird, meaning at least 18 months old.
Doctors have determined the owl at the very least can’t see very well and may well be blind.
“To feed her, we have to put the food right under her foot before she can find it,” Arnold said. “The damage to the bird’s eyes is quite extensive.”
Arnold said Hooter was still at Dickerson Park Zoo as of Tuesday, but the State Department of Conservation, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department will determine where she lives out her days.
“We’re not equipped to keep here, so it’ll have to go somewhere else,” Arnold said.
