Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
Source: Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
Patient #3013 of 2020: Western Screech Owl
Status: Released!
On July 12 a citizen spotted a Western screech owl sitting in the middle of Toro Canyon rd. The owl wasn’t moving. The citizen brought the owl to the Wildlife Care Center where Dr. Avery Berkowitz, the wildlife veterinarian, discovered the owl had vitreal hemorrhage and hyphema –– blood leaking from the front and back of the owl’s eye as a result of head trauma.
Dr. Berkowitz prescribed painkillers and a topical anti inflammatory drug to treat both sides of the owl’s eye. The owl was given a safe place to rest. After a couple days, the owl was much more alert! Wildlife staff moved it to its new, large enclosure.
Over the following days the owl’s eyes was improving. The treatment was working! The owl had a feisty attitude and did not enjoy its progress checks. After two weeks in its enclosure, dozens of healthy rodents to eat, and regular medication, Dr. Berkowitz gave a final assessment and determined the owl was healthy and ready to return to the wild.
Western screech owl patient #3013 of this year was released on July 30th at Lotusland in Montecito by SBWCN Board Member Connie Pearcy. The Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network has cared for 3,415 patients so far this year. 401 of them are still receiving care at the Wildlife Care Center. You can help animals get their second chance at a wild life by going to www.sbwcn.org/donate
