2006 Rescue

"Hooty"

The top picture is of Hooty, a Great Horned Owl, the fiercest and most powerful of our local owls. He was hit by a vehicle one night and left by the side of the road. A farmer working his land rescued him the next day. Radiographs showed multiple fractures but he is healing very well. Unfortunately, Hooty doesn't like being caged so he has trashed his tail feathers so will have to molt before he can be put into flight conditioning. Hooty needs his "rudder" to steer to be an effective aviator and hunter. As Steve Irwin would say: "isn't she a beauty???" Below Hooty is a mature Great Horned Owl. Another Great Horned Owl that was rehabilitated by MWR had a detached retina. That took some time to heal, too.

The Great Horned Owl is identified by the tall feather tufts on its head that resemble horns, but since Hooty is in terrible pain from pelvic and leg injuries her tuffs are "wilted". The male owl's distinctive territorial call "hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo" can be heard over several miles during a still night.

During nesting season, they'll hoot to their mates and if within eyesight, they'll bow to each other, with drooped wings, and they may also rub each other's bills and preen. Great Horned Owls do not build a nest of their own but confiscate the nests of other birds, squirrel nests, hollows in trees, rocky caves, abandoned buildings, or on artificial platforms.

Great Horned Owls are extremely aggressive when defending their nests and will continue to attack until the intruder is killed or driven off. Young Owls, (branchers) start roaming from the nest onto nearby tree branches at six weeks, but cannot fly well until they're 10 weeks old. Great Horned Owl families remain together all summer before the young leave their parent's "territory", traveling up to 150 miles to get away in the autumn.

These owls hunt usually at night when their large eyes have the best vision, but can function during the day time. From high perches they dive down silently flying because of their loose, soft feathers, before snatching prey with their powerful feathered talons. They also hunt by walking on the ground to capture small prey or wade into water to snatch frogs and fish. Their hunting agility has given them access to at least 253 different kinds of prey, but rabbits are Hooty's favorite.

MWR provided Hooty and the other owls with a temporary, lawful home and nutritious, meals appropriate for their species until he recovered from his injuries and is able to fly and hunt on his own.