Raptor persecution is still well and alive.
This Great Horned Owl is one of the few success stories after a raptor is shot. In the first image of the x- ray, you can see the white spots in her left wing affecting the radius/ulna to her metacarpals. These spots indicate bullet fragments.
This owl required a long stent in rehab and was in care for 280 days (Rescued Feb 10 this year). While she healed from the injuries within a few months, her flight feathers were sheared off, and we had to wait for her to molt. We tried imping (a feather implant), but she chewed the imped feathers out.
Getting this beauty where she belongs was worth the time and resources. She was finally released back to the wild on Nov 15th.
We want to thank Chloe and lsacc for rescuing this owl and becoming dedicated volunteers who helped us quickly rescue injured raptors in the Bitterroot Valley.
We are grateful that Julie Lue with MT FWP published an article on this widespread threat in raptor conservation-link to the latest issue of Montana Outdoors with an article about raptor persecution. (Starts on page 37, warning: dead bird images)
Whoever shot her: May your bare feet encounter Lego bricks every night, may your sleeves always slide down when you're washing your hands, may you never find toilet paper when you have 'business' on the loo...๐ช
Eww wet sleeves would get me. I hate that clingy sensation. ๐
They've earned it though. You can't be mad at an animal for it doing its job, or even eyes, just for existing.