GHO Saved by Concerned Commuter

From Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance

Nov 30

Found injured in the middle of I-25 and left for dead... this Great Horned Owl is lucky to be alive.

A commuter driving from Denver to Monument first spotted her standing near the median - still, alone, and clearly not behaving normally. He called another agency but was told to leave her; that she was "probably fine" and eating a mouse. When he drove by two days later and she still hadn't moved, he knew her life depended on him. When traffic cleared, he returned - she tried to fly but collapsed. It was the day before Thanksgiving, so he brought her home, kept her warm through the night, and found us first thing the next morning.

Impact injuries like hers can be devastating - often involving brain trauma, concussions, ocular damage, shock, and internal bleeding. After days exposed to sub-zero temperatures on one of Colorado's busiest highways, she arrived dehydrated, pale, and showing blood in her eyes and mouth, with a dangerously low body temperature. We moved quickly to stabilize her with warmth, oxygen, fluids, and anti-inflammatory medications. She is still in critical condition and unable to feed or care for herself, so we are gently doing that for her until she is strong enough to do it on her own.

Collisions are the number one reason raptors come to our hospital, and most don't survive a high-speed impact on I-25. But this girl is fighting - and now, with your help, she has a chance.