UPDATE: As of December 14, 2012, the owl is eating well and gaining weight. Its caregivers say its injured eye may never fully recover, therefore it may never be able to be released back into the wild. Nothing is certain, but for now we're told the bird is improving.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: DAVENPORT, Iowa - An owl rescued near I-80 in Davenport last week may not survive because of a vision problem.
The Animal Family Veterinary Care Center has posted this update on its Facebook page:
We have an update on the great horned owl who was rescued last week after being injured on the freeway. The staff at The Raptor Center has informed us that he unfortunately does have damage to his vision, which may be permanent. He also sustained a broken bone in one wing near the joint- which is treatable if his vision issues resolve. They are currently hand feeding him because without vision he cannot feed himself. If he does not improve he may not survive. That in no way diminishes the love and care that it took so many individuals to get him to the Raptor Center. We are so proud to live in a community that will band together to help one injured animal. Thank you so much for all your support and maybe we will still have a miracle.
PREVIOUS STORY:
A Great Horned owl, found on Nov. 27th alongside Interstate 80 in Davenport is apparently in worse condition than first thought. A good Samaritan found the injured bird and took it to the humane society. The owl was then treated at the Animal Family Veterinary Care Clinic, where it was determined it had a head injury, possibly from being hit by a car.
"Very feisty, said Dr. Kathy Van Buer of the veterinary clinic. "He was in good shape. I wasn't able to see if he could fly, but he was clenching really good with his talons."
The owl was taken to a raptor clinic in Cedar Rapids, where caretakers discovered vision problems and a broken bone near the joint of a wing. According to the Animal Family Veterinary Care Clinic, the broken bone is treatable but they are more concerned about the vision issues, because without vision, the bird cannot feed himself.
He is currently being hand fed at the raptor clinic. If he does not improve, they say he may not survive.
