A tiny owl with a long list of injuries is getting a second chance in the wild thanks to weeks of care on Vancouver Island.
The MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre in Merville says a northern saw-whet owl has been cleared for release after spending 35 days in treatment.
The owl arrived at the facility with a fractured left metacarpal, a head injury and damage to one eye that caused a retinal hemorrhage.
Rescuers say the owl’s recovery was carefully monitored, with special attention paid to its eyesight, which they say is a critical factor for the animal’s survival.
Before being cleared, the owl was tested using live prey while staff observed remotely to ensure it could successfully track and catch food.
“We are happy to say it passed with flying colours,” the rescue centre wrote. “The whole hospital team is thrilled to be sending this owl back into the wild, fully recovered.”
Northern saw-whet owls may look “cute and cuddly” but MARS notes they are among the most efficient hunters for their size.
Standing just 20 centimetres tall and weighing between 75 to 100 grams, the species regularly takes down prety close to its own size, according to the rescue centre.
Found across North America, saw-whet owls on Vancouver Island typically move between lower elevations in winter and higher forested areas in summer. They prefer coniferous forests with open clearings and rely heavilg on tree cavities for nesting.
Their diet includes small rodents like mice and voles, along with small birds and bats, and in winter they’ll often hunt and store food to eat later.
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