this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2025
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Superbowl

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For owls that are superb.

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US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com

Australia Rescue Help: WIRES

Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org

If you find an injured owl:

Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.

Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.

Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.

If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.

For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.

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From Salthaven Wildlife Rehab

This Great Horned Owl was found on the roadside showing neurological symptoms, likely from a vehicle collision. He's responding well to treatment. In this photo he is receiving fluids and electrolytes, with solid foods to be introduced as he continues to heal.

Great Horned Owls are crepuscular and nocturnal, meaning they are most active at dawn, dusk, and night. Unfortunately, that is also when visibility is lowest for drivers. The vibrations of vehicles can often stir up small prey along roadsides, drawing owls and other wildlife dangerously close to traffic.

To help keep both you and wildlife safe:

-Slow down at dawn and dusk

-Stay alert for movement along the road's edge

-Use high beams when safe to increase visibility

-Avoid throwing food scraps from vehicles, which attract prey (and predators) to roadsides

Every small action can make a big difference for wildlife.

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] onigiri@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Poor thing looks pretty out of it.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

It's got to be a stressful experience, even though it's for their benefit. Poor bird. 😔

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

Tube feeding the owl gets the liquid down the esophagus safely. The tongue has the glottis, the opening to the trachea and lungs, so care needs to be taken that nothing ends up going down there. Using the tube to get well past that helps keep the bird safe.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Aw, poor Dizzy Dean! Get better fella!

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I always feel bad when I have to force a critter to eat. I have to imagine at least owls shouldn't have much/any gag reflex, given how they eat food whole generally.

It's sometimes step one to getting back to health though, so I just try to keep them as relaxed as I can.

[–] mtpender@piefed.social 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This has meme potential...

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

These could help...