Screech Owl from Owl-klahoma

State 36 - Oklahoma

Wildcare Oklahoma - Noble, OK

We’ve seen a lot of Screech Owls here already, but this one came with an informative story detailing some of the critical work these rescues do to get these animals back to good health. From their Facebook:

A couple days before Thanksgiving, we had the cutest little patient #22-6636, Eastern Screech Owl, brought in by a caring rescuer. You can’t tell by the picture, but it was only around 7 inches tall.

The rescuer had found it inside a home and was unsure how long it had been in there. It was brought in to make sure it was healthy enough to be released.

Upon intake, it was found to be dehydrated and a little weak, with a depressed attitude. Many of our patients that come in need fluids, just like this little owl did. There are different ways of giving an animal fluids and this owl received it in two different ways.

First, it was given what we call subcutaneous fluids (injected under the skin). We take a syringe with a needle and draw up fluids from a fluid bag (special sterile water with nutrients), then inject it into the appropriate place under the skin. The next day the owl was feeling better and much more alert.

So, then it got its second dose of fluids by tubing. We carefully feed a tube down through the patients mouth and into the stomach area, attach a syringe to the tube with either water or Pedialyte, and slowly inject it through the tube.This way has to be done with great care to not accidentally get the tube into the Trachea, which leads to the Lungs.

The other way we give fluids to patients, if they are in critical condition, is to place an IV catheter into a vein and hook up to a fluid bag. Thankfully, this little owl didn’t need this!

We gave it a test flight on its second day, and it passed.The rescuer was able to come back and pick up the owl to release it back to its home area. We’re sure that this little owl was probably thankful for the caring rescuer that brought it to WildCare Oklahoma, so that it may return to the wild for Thanksgiving Day!

Oklahoma has a good amount of owl care facilities, but none seem open to the public. Fortunately, WildCare Oklahoma has an open house next month! It’s on November 5. The next one isn’t until April, so don’t miss out. Check their event page for details.