Saturday’s Winter Solstice means winter is here, but we enjoyed another week of spring-like weather in Pendleton. There were just five admissions including Sharp-shinned Hawk 24-428 who had a fractured right humerus and dislocated shoulder. As you can see from the radiograph, the damage was extensive and could not be repaired.

Sunday morning multiple callers reported seeing Great Horned Owl 24-430 in the median of the freeway along I-84 east of Pendleton. Fortunately he was easy to spot and offered minimal resistance when captured. The most significant finding during the exam was the amount of gravel in the owl’s feathers. It shows up in the radiograph as white flecks, especially below the owl’s left knee. There is also some hemorrhage in his left eye. Hopefully tincture of time and anti-inflammatory medication will allow the owl to recover from (presumably) being struck by a vehicle.

Thank you to volunteer Burt who transported two injured birds to Pendleton, American Crow 24-431 found in Umatilla and Snow Goose 24-432 found in Hermiston. The crow had both a broken wing and a broken leg as seen in the radiograph below. The fractures were compound, at least several days old and infected. 

Although the goose had probably been struck by a vehicle, it was also exhibiting signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza, (HPAI), a virus we cannot successfully treat. You may have heard recent news stories of dairy workers contracting HPAI from infected cows. Out of an abundance of caution and to protect our resident education birds, the goose was also euthanized. 

Save The Date: January 11, 2024, 11:00 am Annual Membership Meeting

Mark your calendar for our annual membership meeting. We will look back on the accomplishments and challenges of 2024 and look ahead to the opportunities the new year will bring.

Thank you to all who have made a year-end donation to Blue Mountain Wildlife. Your generosity will allow us to start the new year equipped to help wildlife in need. If you have not yet made a year-end gift to BMW, please consider donating through the Valley Giving Guide and have your donation qualify for matching funds. Thank you again for your generous support.

The week started with winter weather, and has ended with spring-like temperatures. There were just two admissions. First was a starving Great Horned Owl. The exam revealed an old shoulder injury which prevented the owl from flying. There was nothing we could do to correct the damage in the shoulder and the owl’s emaciation was so advanced we cold not have successfully treated it.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew into a window dislocating its left shoulder, elbow and wrist and fracturing its radius and ulna. The damage was not repairable and the hawk was euthanized.

Thank you to all who have made a year-end donation to Blue Mountain Wildlife. Your gifts will help us meet the opportunities and challenges of 2025. If you have not yet made a year-end donation, please consider donating through the Valley Giving Guide and have your donation qualify for matching funds. Thank you again for your generous support!

Red-tailed Hawk 24-393 was found east of Pendleton on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. It had multiple fractures on the left side of its body from being struck by a vehicle. The left wing, the left leg and left side of the pelvis were all damaged. As so often seems to be the case, euthanasia was the only humane option.

Save The Date: January 11, 2024, 11:00 am Annual Membership Meeting

Mark your calendar for our annual membership meeting. We will look back on the accomplishments and challenges of 2024 and look ahead to the opportunities the new year may bring.

Thank you to all who have made a year-end donation to Blue Mountain Wildlife. Your generosity will allow us to start the new year off equipped to help wildlife in need. If you have not yet made a year-end gift to BMW, please consider donating through the Valley Giving Guide and have your donation qualify for matching funds. Thank you again for your generous support.

Barred Owl 24-372 was admitted November 3, 2024 with a right shoulder injury and a broken rib. After 2 1/2 weeks of cage rest the owl was moved to the large flight pen. He(?) was soon making multiple flights the length of the pen. We released him on the Umatilla Indian Reservation at Wetlands Park a few miles from where he had been found.

In the flight pen prior to release…

The owl release…

Back where he belongs…

Two Bald Eagles, admitted as starving fledglings in July, were released this week on a cool blustery day at McNary Beach Park where they had been found. The male eagle was released first. His sister soon followed:

The only other admission this week was a Great Horned Owl that had been struck by a train. It had multiple fractures in the right wing and shoulder. Euthanasia was the only humane option.

The Barred Owl admitted with a broken rib and a shoulder injury has been moved to the large flight pen and is flying well. The plan is to release him in the coming week.