Viability

Caring For Wild Owls In Gloucestershire

Cotswold Owl Rescue Trust is a voluntary organization

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The initial assessment: Will decide the owls’ fate. A serious injury to the wing joints gives a grave prognosis, (as does permanent damage to the eyes, beak, legs or feet ). The skeleton of a bird is fragile and is likely to break easily, if a break is near the joints, they seldom heal correctly and if they do, stiffness and pain is the usual outcome.  Also great care has to be taken to prevent infection setting into the wing, leg or foot bones via any cuts or breaks in the skin, so wounds must be meticulously cleaned.

  • LOSS OF AN EYE (owls need two eyes to hunt efficiently in the wild, although a recent study has shown that tawny owls have been seen to adapt and manage with just one eye)

  • PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BEAK (Will be unable to tear up larger prey  into manageable sizes)

  • BREAK TO THE JOINT OF A WING OR LEG ( avian bone is then prone to infection and joint problems, also some nerves may be damaged preventing the proper function of the limbs.)

  • PERMANENT LOSS  OF MAIN PRIMARY FEATHERS (rendering the owl unable to fly properly)

  • LOSS OF A HIND TOE OR TALON (unable to perch properly and catch and dispatch its prey)

  • INABILITY TO PREEN (Damage to the preen gland or any injury preventing the owl from preening will make it prone to water-logging and subsequently an inability to fly)

EUTHANASIA IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IN ANY OF THE ABOVE CIRCUMSTANCES UNLESS THE OWL IS A RARE SPECIES AND MAY HELP IN A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM.

EUTHANASIA IS RECOMMENDED WHEN:

THE OWL IS NOT VIABLE FOR A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO THE WILD AND WHERE THE OWL MAY NOT ENJOY A HAPPY AND CONTENTED LIFE IN SUITABLE CAPTIVITY.

 

  • THE OWL IS OF SOUND MIND  (by behaviour pattern, exhibiting good psychological health)

  • THE OWL IS FEEDING FOR ITSELF AND CASTING REGULARLY

  • THE OWL IS PREENING (Waterproofing of  the feathers is very important)

  • THERE IS NO INJURY THAT IN ANY WAY COULD IMPAIR HUNTING (see above criteria)

  • IT IS NOT A MIGRATORY BIRD OUT OF SEASON (e.g. Short-eared outside its migratory season)

  • NO IMPRINTING HAS OCCURRED (see imprinting)

  • WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FAVOURABLE