From Raven Ridge Wildlife Center

We are thrilled to announce that release day has finally arrived, and we are excited to share this great news with you. Thanks to our team’s quick work and the support of our community, a very sick Barred owl has made a full recovery.

On February 23rd, we received an unresponsive and dazed Barred owl from a DCNR worker named Kelly, who found it on Rt. 233 near Caladonia State Park. The owl was severely dehydrated, underweight, and showed signs of head trauma and respiratory issues. We immediately began medical treatment, fluids, and Oxygen, which resulted in a dramatic improvement in the owl’s condition.

We were relieved to find out that the owl was negative for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), as it has been showing up in many feathered friends recently. Thanks to our team’s expertise and dedication, the Barred owl made a full recovery and was returned back to its home at Caladonia State Park last weekend. The owl knew it was back home and took off beautifully.