From Doc’s Veterinary Wildlife
The “Goshen Owl” was found last week unable to fly. Upon presentation, he had weakness in his right wing as well as the inability to fully use his left leg. X-rays showed pelvic and spinal trauma most likely from being hit by a car. Treatment included medicine for pain, laser therapy, and plenty of rest and supportive care. Over a week later, he is doing better and is once more able to fly, however needs more time for his leg to improve. These cases can take a long time to heal.
Great questions! Not sure I can quite answer either.
I’m wondering if the glasses just keep him calm and pretty still. Covering a bird’s head can calm them down, like when a falconer puts that little hood on them. I was thinking maybe when not taking the pic, that person helps hold them there, but that seems precariously close to that nippy bit. The strap doesn’t look tight, so I’m wondering how there isn’t a big gap between the eyes and the cups of the goggles as well. With the eyes being so huge and having what amounts to a reflector at the back to amplify light, a laser seems especially dangerous for an owl. I’m no expert on lasers though…
Not sure if your follow up is about how they are holding the owl, but it did get me thinking about that too. I’m wondering if the owl is perching with his left leg (but then why no raptor glove? is a fairly large owl!) and maybe they are gripping higher up on the tibiotarsus/fibula, as that paralyzed right foot is dangling. Even the pic where it is leaning forward, I’d think they’d be holding the owl’s keel (what would be our breastbone) but the hand looks down on the belly. Between the flight muscles, bones, and head, owls seem like they’d be kind of top heavy. Very interesting indeed… 🤔
Hahaha
I’ve been nipped through basic leather gloves by a few Screeches, and that isn’t too bad, but a Barred Owl is much bigger!
I saw a video the other week of a falconer training either a GHO or an eagle owl, and he was so proud it flew to his glove on command for the first time. Then the video went to slow motion, and the owl just chomps him right on the nose. Bam!
Needless to say, he didn’t seem to enjoy that bit at the time! 😄
It’s part of the excitement of animals though. I had a squirrel bite down on me a few times on the wrist right past the glove cuff the other week. That hurt a decent amount!