Saturday…

Sunday…

Thought For The Day

In the Before Times (before COVID19) during classroom presentations, I would remind students that we are all connected and what we do to the environment we do to ourselves, therefore we should take care of the world around us. It is easy to think, as individuals we have no power, but that is not true! We can each make choices that will conserve resources: turn off the light when you leave a room, combine your errands to reduce the number of miles driven, shop local and plan menus to include more whole grains and fresh produce. You will save money, consume fewer calories and reduce your environmental foot print! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

The First Owls have Hatched at the Benton City Center…

Michele reports two barn owl eggs have hatched and a third is hatching as I compose this newsletter. Baby season has officially arrived at BMW!

Bald Eagle 23-011

We lost the second Bald Eagle to ingested lead toxicity this year. The eagle was admitted Wednesday and died Thursday afternoon. The rapid screening test for avian influenza was negative, but his blood lead level was high, meaning it was above the level our LeadCare machine could read. We started chelation therapy immediately, but the eagle died 30 hours after he was admitted. This is why we encourage Lead Free Hunting and Fishing!

Momma Barn Owl and Eggs!!!

She wasn’t the greatest housekeeper, but this Barn Owl picked a very protected place to nest, until the owner wanted to do some remodeling. 

Fortunately he was willing to wait for volunteers Kenny and Janie to drive to Outlook, WA and collect momma and her eggs. First they captured mom, then Janie collected the eggs.

Now momma owl and her eggs are safely in a nest box at BMW’s Tri-Cities Center. Michele candled the eggs and they all appear to be fertile. Good job everyone!

Two Great Horned Owls were admitted this past week. GHOW 23-009 tested positive for avian influenza and was humanely euthanized. Below is a photo of the positive FLUDETECT test strip. The rapid test is similar to an in-home COVID test and can be completed in 15 minutes. Although the test can sometimes result in a false positive, it is a useful screening tool for owls like 23-009 who are exhibiting symptoms of avian influenza. 

We can use a more accurate PCR test for high risk species who are asymptomatic, but it requires sending the test sample to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Corvallis at a cost of $80, as compared to the $10 cost of the rapid test. 

GHOW 23-010 was struck by a vehicle on Interstate-84. His left eye was badly damaged and was not going to be functional. A one-eyed Great Horned Owl has a very poor prognosis for survival if released, so he was also euthanized. 23-010 tested negative for avian influenza so illness was not a factor in his injury

Western Screech Owl 22-423 Released

Tricia released another Screech Owl this past week. It received a head injury in a collision (with a window, a car or ????) on December 26, 2022. She released it in a park near where it had been found.

Pendleton Outfitters

A new business in town and a new podcast! And we are on Episode 1…

We had another quiet week at the Pendleton center which gave us time to put the finishing touches on the new Intake Center. Intern Casey brought his guitar when he traveled Pendleton. He’s a member of a band at Dartmouth College. Saturday we took him to Great Pacific Wine and Coffee Company so he could participate in the weekly  jam session. BMW President Carl Scheeler and the other musicians all made Casey feel welcome.

Thank You Casey!

We have appreciated having intern Casey here these past few weeks. Although there were not a lot of patients in the clinic, he did see first hand the tragic effects of ingested lead toxicity in a Bald Eagle. Casey will return to Dartmouth College this week to complete his senior year. He is planning on taking a gap year off as he decides which Veterinary schools he will apply to.

For answers to questions you may have about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza scan the links at the bottom of the flyer…