There were 539 admissions in 2025. If domestic and non-native species (which BMW is not permitted to rehabilitate) are excluded, the total is reduced to 337. Of those, 164 were released and 4 are pending release or placement as education birds. That is a 49% release rate which is typical for BMW. The prevalence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in our region does not seem to have affected the release rate.

The BMW education team provided 24 education programs to 900 participants both on and off-site. New ambassador bird Rainy, a gyrfalcon/peregrine falcon hybrid, was the star of the show when 500 students attended an Oregon East Symphony Youth Concert featuring music inspired by Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Rainy greeted the students as they arrived for the concert. The situation was chaos and Rainy didn’t ruffle a feather.

The first admission of 2026 was an extremely emaciated Great Horned Owl 26-001. The owl had old injuries to her pelvis and left foot that made it impossible for her to hunt. Euthanasia was the only humane option.

Barn Owl 25-537 is improving after a collision that resulted in a head injury. He is stubbornly refusing to eat despite my best efforts at mouse presentation. As soon as we can convince him to eat, he will be moved outside to continue his recovery.    

Next to be released is Northern Pygmy Owl 25-524

Thank you to all supported BMW in 2025. We are ready to meet the challenges of 2026 with you by our side!

What a year. 

• Blue Mountain Wildlife has admitted 536 patients as of December 28, a 25% increase from 2024. 

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) may well be an endemic disease that is here to stay. 

• BMW’s board of directors approved the construction of a new wildlife hospital to replace our aging clinic. 

As they say, it takes a village to run an organization, and BMW is no acceptation. Dedicated staff, volunteers, interns (there were 8 in 2025) and hundreds of financial supporters keep the clinic operating and wildlife cared for. We are fortunate to have intern Enxin Chen here during Christmas break. She is a biology major at Whitman College, in a pre-veterinary program.

The three admissions this past week are typical winter patients. Great Horned Owl 25-534 was found tangled in a barbed-wire fence. Initially, the right wing tip was very cold, indicating compromised circulation. No major injuries were found during the exam or on x-rays. The following morning the circulation seemed to be normal. We are hoping for a speedy recovery. In the photo below Chen holds the owl as it recovers from anesthesia. 

Great Horned Owl 25-535 was found under a power line and appeared to have been electrocuted. The large owl had burns on both wingtips, was unable to stand and had limited reflex response in her legs and feet. With no improvement after 24 hours, she was euthanized.

Red-tailed Hawk 25-536 was showing signs of HPAI and was euthanized on admission. Both owls and the hawk are being tested for HPAI since they are all high risk species for the disease.  

Thank you to all who have helped BMW prepare for 2026 with a year-end donation. You can donate through the Valley Giving Guide until December 31st on Blue Mountain Wildlife’s donation page: Blue Mountain Wildlife 

We bid farewell to 2025 and wish you peace and joy in 2026!

Be a part of 2026 with Blue Mountain Wildlife by attending our Membership Meeting…Open to everyone who supports our mission and local wildlife.

Annual Membership Meeting will be on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:00 am. A Zoom link for the meeting will be posted on the BMW website the week of the meeting.

Hope to see you there!

Thank you to all who have made year-end donations to Blue Mountain Wildlife. Your gifts will help us care for wildlife in 2026. Special thanks to those who have donated online through the Valley Giving Guide allowing 100% of your donation to go to BMW along with matching funds. 

As suspected, the Red-tailed Hawk who died last week shortly after admission, tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The only other admissions where Western Screech Owl 25-530 and Great Blue Heron 25-531. Both had non-repairable injuries and were euthanized. The heron was not showing symptoms of HPAI, but because they are a high risk species for the virus, it will be tested.

Northern Pygmy Owl 25-524, admitted with a dislocated scapula, has made a complete recovery and will be returned to La Grande for release. These tiny diurnal owls hunt small birds during the day.

Thank you again to all who have helped BMW prepare for 2026 with a year-end donation. You can donate through the Valley Giving Guide until December 31st on Blue Mountain Wildlife’s donation page: Blue Mountain Wildlife  I know we will accomplish great things with you by our side!

Red-tailed Hawk 25-529, found near Boardman was the only admission during the past week. The hawk died within minutes of its arrival. We will test to confirm, but Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is likely the cause of death. Due to their willingness to scavenge (as many raptors are) Red-tails are high risk for the disease.

Red-tailed Hawk 25-525, admitted on November 24, tested positive for HPAI and also came from Boardman. This strain of avian influenza is incredibly challenging for the wildlife rehab community.

Fundraising, while not my favorite job, keeps the lights on, the shelves and freezers stocked and allows Blue Mountain Wildlife’s awesome staff to be paid! The annual December Letter went out this week. If you receive the weekly journal, it was delivered to  your inbox. Thank you to all who have already renewed your membership or made a year-end gift. We appreciate your support! Click here to visit the Valley Giving Guide for Year-end Giving through Dec. 31, 2025. 100% of your donation will come to BMW along with matching funds!