Screech owl rescue 2014

November 2014. A friend called me with a problem. She had found a little owl she thought was a baby. First of all babies are not born in November and second we have 2 very small owls that we may encounter. Saw whet and screech. Both amazing little owls. And yes could very easily be mistaken for a baby owl. More than this lady has called them that to me. But in fact this is a full grown adult screech owl. She found it manteling over a mouse in its talons at the bottom of her deck stairs. Owls do this to protect their catch. By opening their wings and cupping them around their prey. The mouse was in its talons but the owl did not have the energy to eat it. I told her to make sure it did not get away. And I would be there soon. Just as I thought it was emaciated or "starving ". I handled it and felt its chest gently ,it had no fight at all left in it,and it was very obvious this little owl was in real trouble. I took it home and called Toronto Wildlife Center. And he spent the night with me warm and sheltered. First thing in the AM we took it to TWC. From there they got it stable, in a couple weeks it went to The Owl Foundation were it continued to recuperate. In April 2015 it was ready to come home. And I got to go pick it up and release it back to the wild. To be free again. Amazing. The following are some photos of it when I first got it,at The Owl Foundation and the big day. The release to freedom. There are no words to describe that feeling. And then I found it " thanks to the chickadees " after release and got to see it alive and well in the wild again. Wide eyed and tall and thin to make itself blend into the trees. Which by the way these owls do very well. If you are lucky to see an owl of any sort. Be respective,do not use flashes and PLEASE do not get to close. Give it lots of space and never feed ,follow or chase.  

Unfortunately these went in helter scelter. But above is the owl after I got it home in a box. I put a stick in there for it to grip. As you can see it was all fluffed up and not looking good at all.

                        This is a collage I put together of the various stages of this rescue.

I didnt even need to wear gloves. It had no life . It just sat in my hands and allowed me to check it out.Was very very thin and weak.

                             The big day. Getting ready to release the now healthy little owl.

                         Off it goes,Flew to the fence sat a while then off it went. It was home.

My son Jeff took this photo of it sitting on the fence after the release to get its bearings. Did not take long and off it went.

                           Another shot of it in the box at my house night before it went to rehab.

At The Owl Foundation,getting ready for the last check up before they release him to me to go back to the wild.

Not impressed,but also being very good, all this must be done to make sure it is safe to release it to us. And making sure it is in fact ready to go free.

                                               Measurements are taken and recorded.

                                                         Measuring the wingspan.

                                                                  Look at those feet.

                                  Another release photo.Bright healthy eyes. Checking us out.

Free again. In a tree out back of release sight. Healthy and strong awaiting the darkness to start living again.

Distemper

Last couple years our little raccoon friends have been hit hard with distemper. This little one was one of 4 babes that came to us after their mother was killed. I was heartbroken when this one showed up one night wheezing,nose dripping and eyes crusty. Like he was saying goodbye. When I confirmed what it was and that he was in need of help. I was ready to get him. They would have euthanized him so he did not have to suffer and go off and die alone. It is a horrible death and slow. But he never came back. There is always something to learn in wild animals lives. About their health,sicknesses that can be helped and those that cant and how do we know. About their behavior. Which tells you so much.Out of these four little ones. two that I know of for certain died of distemper. Fortunately for the second one. I had already learned from this one and I was able to get it and although he lived for a couple days until they were certain it was distemper. He was on some meds to help him and when he took a turn they acted and he suffered no longer. I had 3 last summer and one summer before. Very sad.

And this is what one of my foxes looks like now. A second chance on life. Healthy active and hunting well. 

                     On the alert mode when a raccoon comes out and is climbing a nearby tree.

                                 A squirrel is near and coming right within reach of my fox.

 She hunkers down and puts her ears forward to make it look like ( you cant see me ) to the squirrel. And it didnt see her.

 Not hungry this time. The squirrel climbs the tree a couple feet away. She watches it all the way up curls up and goes to sleep.

  Winter has been on and off this year. Most days no snow at all. Then it would snow and a few very cold days. But all in all not to bad. The fox loved the snow.

                                                                      Hunting well.

                                                                          Grooming

                                                              Play time in the snow.

                               Again the snow is gone and the fox is playing all over the yard.

  Found a nice warm place to have a nap but the crows are making a racket on the lake. Gets her attention.

 Another nice warm place another day I spot her on my walk. She is enjoying the warm sunshine.

 These next snow shots are another series were she was very active and hunting,being curious and  playing in the trees and on the ice.

                                                                    Whoooo are you