Notice Anything Different?

From Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

Notice anything unusual about this Great Horned Owl?

It's in the eyes! Typically, Great Horned Owls have piercing yellow peepers, but these are a pale green. It was the first thing our clinic team noticed when this patient arrived, dehydrated and suffering from neurological damage associated with secondary rodenticide poisoning.

Secondary rodenticide poisoning occurs when an animal eats prey that has been poisoned with rodenticide, and it's a major problem for owls and other raptors. This beautiful owl is making a slow recovery, but it's a good reminder to stop all rodenticide use, instead opting for more humane choices. Raptors are excellent pest control all on their own!

And from the comment section:

Commenter: Are the eyes color a result of the poisoning or just a genetic anomaly he was born with?

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey: Good question! Our clinic team says that it's possible for eye color to temporarily change due to health, or it could be a genetic difference. Since we don't know this bird's health history and if its eyes were a different color before, we cannot say either way!