| 13 weeks 23 hours 19 min ago Record number of Barred Owls getting injured
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(NECN) – Wildlife rehabilitators in Maine are seeing a disturbing trend this winter. Record numbers of Barred Owls are being brought in with injuries.
There are currently 17 owls rehabilitating in one Maine rehabilitation center, while 32 have been in since mid-December. It has been the busiest winter ever seen for hurt owls in the Northeast.
The Center Director says all the owls were hit by cars. Two questions arise, why so many Barred Owls and why the same fate? Researchers believe the Red Backed Vole in Canada is on the decline. Since it is a food source for the Barred Owl, the owls are coming further south to hunt for food in the Maine woods, translating into more injuries.
Since most of the owls are young, they may lack the experience to avoid cars. The owls are taken to the vet for everything from broken wings to eye injuries.
Those with broken bones have to stay the winter, which is becoming a problem. The staff has to put two or three owls in each outdoor flight cage because of the population surge. To release them early would not be in the best interest of the bird.
The housing crunch is a clear reminder of what happens when nature’s delicate balance is upset.
NECN’s Amy Sinclair has the story.
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