The majority of injured wildlife admitted to Blue Mountain Wildlife have encountered cars, cats or windows. Although the result of human activity, the injuries are not intentional. Gunshot injuries are intentional and usually illegal.

There were two gunshot victims this past week. American Crow 25-496 was found in downtown La Grande, unable to fly. An exam and x-rays found damage to its left wing, The damage was not repairable and the Crow was euthanized. The air rifle pellet that caused the damage is visible near the bird’s keel.

Cooper’s Hawk 25-498 was found in Athena. The left humerus and shoulder joint were damaged and not repairable. The hawk was euthanized.

Three Great Horned Owls and a Barn Owl were admitted with injuries that could not be repaired.

Great Horned Ow 25-491 had a coracoid fracture and a dislocated hip.

The right humerus and elbow of Great Horned Owl 25-492 were badly damaged.

The left radius and ulna of Barn Owl 25-493 were fractured.

Great Horned Owl 25-500 had injured its right wrist resulting in arthritis that had caused the joint to be frozen.

I should clarify that when I say a fracture is not repairable it means the bird will not be able to fly sufficiently well to be releasable. If a bird is non-releasable, my permits allow two options: euthanasia or placement as an education bird. If the bird’s condition and temperament are compatible with being in an education program, we can usually find suitable placement. More often than not, the birds are not suitable for education and euthanasia is the humane option.

Turkey Vulture 25-497 was found along a road, presumably struck by a vehicle. Our exam found a fractured right tibiotarsus and fibula. The fractures were close to the knee joint which was also damaged. The prognosis for recovery was poor and the bird was euthanized.

Common Snipe 25-499 was found near Joseph with a wing injury. An x-ray showed a fractured right humerus and badly damaged shoulder. The damage was not repairable. The photos below show the Snipe being positioned, under anesthesia in preparation for taking an x-ray, taped to the x-ray table in a dorsal/ventral position and the resulting x-ray.

There is some good news to share. Great Horned Owl 25-476 is continuing her recovery from extreme emaciation out in a flight pen. Her flight is perfect. We do not know what caused the owl’s emaciation, but suspect it was the result of a head injury. It is challenging to evaluate subtle abnormalities in her brain function.

Adult Swainson’s Hawk 25-443 who was admitted with multiple broken feathers, is flying fairly well, but will be spending the winter with BMW. She will need to molt in the spring before being able to make her migration journey to Argentina.

BMW’s treasurer, Kirsti, captured the photo below of a young Great Horned Owl approaching a feeding platform at sunset.