Screech Owl Vehicle Collision

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 19826802 - Eastern Screech-owl; Walton County, Georgia. January 23, 2019.

Just after sunset, one of the animal control officers was called out to pick up an owl. A little red or rufous morph Eastern Screech Owl had crossed paths with a vehicle and became stuck in the car’s grill after a head-on collision. The owl was quite stunned, but still alive.

Owls have superb vision and pinpoint hearing in order to pick off prey in low-light situations. I suspect this one was so focused on diving after its prey, which in this case was on the side of a roadway, that it don’t even notice the vehicle racing at it from the side.

The animal control officer brought the Owl back to the animal shelter and placed it in a quiet cage. Thankfully, it was still alive in the morning when I arrived. It was still able to see, which is a good sign. Many owls I have picked up that were involved in car strikes have gone blind from head trauma. It was also able to fly a short distance but soon became exhausted. Sensing it wasn’t able to be released, I made arrangements with a licensed wildlife rehabilitor to take it into their care.

• Walton County, Georgia; January 23, 2019

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 19826802 - Eastern Screech-owl; Walton County, Georgia. January 23, 2019.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 19826802 - Eastern Screech-owl; Walton County, Georgia. January 23, 2019.

הועלה ב-ינואר 26, 2022 04:08 אחה"צ על ידי williamwisephoto