"I Heard Your Message, But...."

"....I fed it anyway. I didn't understand why I shouldn't feed it. Why shouldn't I feed it anyway?"

So much for being able to put what used to be a perfectly healthy baby Great Horned Owl back in its nest. Thanks to the straw full of water that its rescuer put in its mouth, the owlet is now fighting for its life.



Case: 09-100
Species: Great Horned Owl
Diagnosis: aspiration pneumonia

The instructions that we and other wildlife rehabilitation centers provide are designed to keep rescuers from doing unintended harm....please follow them.

Owls don't play soccer

Since owls don't play soccer why don't we all agree to take down our soccer nets at night. For what its worth they don't play badminton or volleyball either. The nets are a hazard to owls who hunt at night. Their amazing hearing allows them to track their prey but they don't see the nets.

Earlier this evening we got a call from Oswego where a Great Horned Owl had gotten trapped in a net in an open field. Vince and his family had spent the better part of the day trying to find someone to help. They think the owl might have been trapped since last night. He called the police, trapping services and other rehab facilities and no one could help or was willing to go to Oswego to save the owl. By the time we got the call he was running out of places to call.

Fortunately, Vince didn't give up and we were able to help. When I got there, Vince and his son took me out to an open field behind their house. At the base of the net was a Great Horned Owl completely entangled in the net. Next to owl was his dinner a big old rabbit. It looked as though the Great Horned Owl had just caught the rabbit and hit the net trying to get away with dinner. The owl was not happy to see us, even if we were there to help. I cut the owl from the net and put him a box to transport back the Barrington facility to remove the tangled netting and receive medical care.

At the Barrington Facility, Dawn removed the tangled netting, did an assessment and treated the owl for dehydration. She will evaluate the owl later today after it has time to calm down. Hopefully we will be able to return it back to the wild quickly. Its breeding season for Great Horned Owls and we don't know if this one has a mate.

So please think about the hazards that are up in yards, parks and schools. If you need to leave the nets out at least lay them down so its less likely anything will fly into them. This owl may have been lucky it was stuck but not hanging upside down and he didn't become dinner.

Thanks Vince for not giving up!!

Great Horned Owl Release

Several months after we rescued a large, female Great Horned Owl with a broken wing from a horse pasture, we returned her home - her wing now healed. Instead of flying off to the nearby trees, she headed across the open space towards the resident's house. I feared for a moment that I was about to treat her for head trauma, but at the last minute she ascended to land on their roof. I am confident that this tough and aggressive owl will thrive now that we've given her a second chance.

Mice beware!

Flint Creek WIldlife Rehabilitation's Education Birds at Itasca's National Night Out Celebration

05-11, a Red-tailed Hawk, and Junior, a Great Horned Owl, appeared at Itasca's National Night Out Event. Both birds were a big hit among the event's many attendees.



National Night Out focuses on crime and drug prevention. The Itasca Police Department, Itasca Fire Department, Health World and many other important groups were featured at the event.



I do regret to report that Junior Great Horned Owl was arrested at the event for illegal mouse trafficking. He was booked, printed, his mug shot taken, and he and his handler were put behind bars. Fortunately, we promptly made bail and were released.

05-11 posed in an Itasca police car. We didn't let 05-11 drive the car despite her repeated requests.






All j0king aside, we hope that you enjoy the pictures!







Signed,




One Handler Happy to be Out of Jail