A Spotted Eagle Owl was injured on Monday evening (August 24) when it flew into a caged-off area at a house in Leeu Street, Observation Hill, Ladysmith. The owl suffered damage to its wing, but the community of Ladysmith has rallied around to save it.

The homeowners found the injured owl on the ground, floundering. They managed to take it inside their home and started making frantic calls to anyone they thought may be able to help.

Ladysmith Birders

Eventually, they contacted Ladysmith Animal Anti-Cruelty League kennel supervisor Elrize Els, who immediately contacted the editor of the Ladysmith Gazette, Rod Skinner.

Rod is well known in the Ladysmith area for his bird photography. He immediately liaised with members of the Ladysmith Birders on the way forward.

AACL to the rescue

He joined the AACL in fetching the owl.

It was then transported back to the AACL kennels and kept in a darkened room overnight while Elrize tirelessly contacted various rescue organisations.

FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation

FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Howick responded that they would take the bird, pending an inspection by a local vet to determine the extent of the injuries. This was to be arranged on Tuesday morning.

The owl is one of two that live in the Observation Hill area and it is hoped that, once the bird has been treated and has recovered, it can eventually be returned to its home and be reunited with its partner.

Mad dash to save Owlie

However, Ladysmith vets could not fit the owl in, as they were busy with surgeries the whole of Tuesday morning and the decision was taken to transport ‘Owlie’ (as he had now become fondly known) directly to FreeMe in Howick.

Estelle Boucher from Ladysmith Pharmacy volunteered to take Owlie to Howick.

The mad dash to Howick was undertaken during late morning, with Owlie arriving at the FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre just after 12 midday.

Owlie’s journey to recovery, however, was not going to be that simple, despite everyone hoping for a positive outcome.

Initial hope

The initial examination proved inconclusive, as the cause of the injured wing could not be located.

He spent the night at FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Howick and was seen by their veterinarian on Wednesday morning.

The hope that Owlie had suffered nothing more than a dislocated wing and that he would make a speedy recovery and be back in Ladysmith in no time was dashed when x-rays revealed the extent of the damage.

Hope dashed

According to FreeMe’s Tammy Caine, the owl has a fractured coracoid with a 20% displacement.

“There is no way to surgically pin or straighten the fracture, as the coracoid lies under the pectoral muscles and runs from the shoulder to the ribs, where it fuses with the sternum,” she explained.

“What we have done is position the wing so that the top of the humerus is not pushing against the fractured coracoid and have strapped the wing in that position,” she added.

This has been done with the hope that the coracoid will line up as it should and calcify in place, she says, adding that the owl is going to have to be with them for several weeks.

Long shot

“It is a long shot, as the risk is that if the coracoid does not line up and calcify to heal, it will probably be a euthanise case.” This is because, if the bone remains displaced, the owl will not be able to use that wing again and there is the risk that the bone will die and cause a massive infection.

But she stresses that this is a worst-case scenario and they are going to hope for the best-case scenario.

How to help

Owlie’s treatment and care will come at a cost. So if you are able to assist with Owlie’s veterinary and rehabilitation expenses, please contact Estelle at Ladysmith Pharmacy.

Every bit of support will help get Owlie back home and, hopefully, reunited with his partner in Observation Hill. If you want to donate directly to FreeMe, you can follow the link. Just use the reference ‘Owlie 798’ so they know who you are helping.

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