A rare owl that was seriously injured near Richer earlier this year has made a remarkable recovery at Wildlife Haven in Île-des-Chênes and has now been released back into the wild.
The Northern Hawk Owl, a species rarely seen in southern Manitoba, was struck by a vehicle near Richer in March. At the time, wildlife rehabilitators feared the bird might never fly again due to a severe open fracture in its left wing.
However, after months of intensive veterinary care and rehabilitation at Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, the owl has been given a second chance.
A challenging recovery
Wildlife Haven has announced that the owl was officially released back into the wild after successfully recovering from her injuries.
The owl arrived in March with a severe wing fracture and a poor prognosis.
"Our team wasn't sure if she would fly again, but our veterinarian, Dr. Casey, took on the challenge," Wildlife Haven stated in a social media update.
The recovery process proved difficult, in part because of the owl's determined personality.
Wildlife Haven says the bird repeatedly removed her own bandages and wing wraps, making treatment challenging. To solve the problem, Dr. Casey designed and hand-crafted a special "scarf" collar that prevented the owl from reaching the splint.
The custom solution allowed the injury to heal properly while the owl remained on strict cage rest.
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Back in the air
Following weeks of healing and physical therapy, the owl's wing recovered sufficiently for the next stage of rehabilitation.
In April, she was moved to an outdoor flight enclosure where she could rebuild her strength and stamina.
Last week, the owl was returned to the area where she was found.
Wildlife Haven reports that upon release, she flew into the woods and perched in a nearby tree, demonstrating that she had regained the flight abilities necessary to survive in the wild.
Rare visitor to southern Manitoba
The rehabilitation centre noted that Northern Hawk Owls are uncommon in southern Manitoba.
The species typically inhabits northern boreal forests and is known for its hawk-like hunting style and daytime activity. The injured owl weighed less than one pound, roughly the size of a large pigeon.
The bird's successful release marks a positive outcome after what initially appeared to be a potentially career-ending injury for a wild raptor that depends entirely on flight to hunt and survive.
