Barred Owl 24-1799 release
🦉 #CaseUpdate 🦉
Barred owl 24-1799 who originally presented to the clinic with right eye trauma, a clavicle fracture, and a coracosternal luxation, has officially been released in the original location found. After spending some time with another licensed rehabilitator to recondition for release and ensure it had strong flight abilities and good stamina, the rehabilitator transported the owl back to our clinic so that our second year manager, Riley, could release the bird. Riley, under the guidance of our clinic director, Dr. Lewis, was the one able to perform the owl’s eye evisceration surgery, so it was very rewarding for her to also be the individual that had the privilege of releasing this bird back into the wild. Once released it took 24-1799 a minute to regain their bearings after exiting the crate but they eventually flew high and far away into a tree.
Red tailed hawk territorial call
This is Ruby, our female red-tailed hawk and she spotted a wild red-tailed hawk flying over the ambassador building. This is a call that red-tailed hawks will give to defend and declare their territory and is also used as a warning call. Here Ruby is telling the wild hawk that this is her territory, and it needs to fly elsewhere.
Fun fact: Red-tailed hawk vocalizations are often used as Bald Eagle vocalizations in movies because film makers decided the red tailed hawks call is more intimidating and dramatic than a Bald Eagles call.
Red-tailed hawk creancing session
✨#CaseUpdate ✨
Juvenile red-tailed hawk 24-2042 arrived on September 14th with an ulnar (wing) fracture and ocular (eye) trauma. We provided pain relief medications, topical eye drops, and managed the ulnar fracture with a figure-8 bandage. This patient healed very well and we are beginning the flight reconditioning process with a technique called creancing.
Creancing is a falconry training technique that allows a bird to be tethered while flying in a large open space. We first attach leather anklets, which look like small bracelets that go around each leg, just above the foot. A small piece of rope or leather called a jess is then put through the anklet, the jesses are then connected with an extender, and the extender is attached to the creance line before allowing the bird to fly. Creance lines can vary in length, where you can start off at a shorter distance and then eventually allow the bird to fly the full length of the creance line, which is usually 150 to 200 feet.
We do not have access to a large flight cage, so instead we can use creancing to help this patient with active range of motion exercises and regaining cardiovascular fitness. We will continue with creancing three times per week until she is at an appropriate condition for release.
Great Horned Owl 1185 release.
#CaseUpdate (s)
Part 2-
Great horned owl 24-1185 arrived on June 16th after being hit by a car and entangled in netting. She had a tarsometatarsal (lower leg) fracture that was surgically repaired by Dr. Bender, UIUC Zoo Med Specialty Intern and previous WMC student manager, under supervision by Dr. Lewis, WMC Director. After her leg healed, she was sent to DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center in Glen Ellyn, IL for reconditioning in their large flight cage. WMC volunteer Angela Bella then picked up this bird from Glen Ellyn to release back near the location she was found!
(see video below)
Lastly, Great horned owl 24-1847 arrived to the WMC on August 24th with severe ocular trauma and a large wound on the top of the head with the skull exposed. Fourth year veterinary student Bob Lynch repaired the owl's head wound under Dr. Lewis' supervision. One eye was confirmed to be blind and unable to be saved. That eye was surgically removed under Dr. Lewis' guidance by WMC team leader Roxanne Lisowsky. The other eye was treated successfully for inflammation. Many rehabilitation centers will release one-eyed owls as they rely primarily on their hearing to hunt. All of this patient's procedures healed beautifully, and she was reconditioned at Illinois Raptor Center and released by WMC team leader, Sofia Descamp back in her home territory.
Again, we could not complete our amazing work without the help of friends and colleagues! Our sincerest gratitude goes out to Illinois Raptor Center and DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center for their assistance with these special patients!
Great Horned Owl 1824 release
#CaseUpdate (s)
Last week we released FOUR long-term adult great horned owl patients! We are going to divide their stories into two posts, so stayed tuned for part two later today!
Part 1-
Great horned owl 24-1824 arrived to WMC on August 23rd thin and with multiple parasitic infections. With extensive medical therapy and supportive care, they made a full recovery. This patient also was sent to DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center in Glen Ellyn, IL for flight reconditioning and released by WMC volunteer Angela Bella, where it was originally found (see video below).
Great horned owl 24-1640 arrived to WMC on August 4th with a left humeral fracture. Her fracture was surgically repaired by DVM intern Dr. Erica Bender and healed perfectly! This patient reconditioned with our partners at Illinois Raptor Center, and was released by Dr. Bender back in her home territory!
We could not complete our amazing work without the help of friends and colleagues! Our sincerest gratitude goes out to Illinois Raptor Center and DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center for their assistance with these special patients!
Wood Thrush Released back to the Wild
🪶#CaseUpdate 🪶
This Wood Thrush presented to the clinic on 9/23/24 after striking a window. After some supportive care and rest, it has made a full recovery and was released back into the wild, at a location close to where it was found.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Release
🌞#WildlifeRelease🌞
Last Friday, we had the tremendous pleasure of releasing a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker! This bird was brought to our clinic early last week and upon examination, we found that they had some pain and swelling of their right wing, close to the shoulder joint. While in the hospital, they received pain medications to help manage their suspected pain. After further examination with one of our staff veterinarians and X-Rays, we ruled out any fractures, lesions, or luxations of that right wing. Our interpretation of these results is that this patient might have had a soft tissue injury of the shoulder.
The next day we conducted a flight test to determine whether the Sapsucker could fly normally. Great news! This Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker was able to fly and perch normally in our outside cages! This means that they were ready for release! We are always thrilled whenever we have the chance to release patients back into the wild and love to share this great news with you! Please enjoy this video of the release of this healthy Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.
Petunia’s Food Puzzle
Enjoy our Virginia Opossum Petunia doing an enrichment food puzzle! Inside the newspaper is different spices for her to enjoy!💕
