Owl That Can’t Avoid Trouble Back At Rehab Center

Papa Owl has had a rough go of it. Two years ago, he took a gunshot to his wing and spent three months recovering at the Chocolay Raptor Center at Marquette on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Life went along pretty well for the great horned owl. Papa Owl and his mate raised two chicks in their nest at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Marquette in 2015 and another chick last year. They’re nesting again, though there’s no sign of a chick just yet.

Now, Papa Owl is back in the infirmary. It rarely happens that a raptor will make a repeat trip for rehabilitation, the Chocolay Raptor Center posted on Facebook.

“He just can’t seem to stay out of trouble,” the post read. “We rescued him, and he appeared stunned, not able to move and very still.”

An examination by a veterinarian confirmed the owl was the same one shot two years ago. The pellet is still in his wing and very visible on an X-ray, according the post. What happened isn’t entirely clear, but it appears he sustained some sort of trauma. It was unknown at the time of the post on Saturday whether Papa Owl would recover.

Then, on Sunday, came wonderful, welcome news. Papa Owl is on the mend.

“After not moving for almost 36 hours, yesterday afternoon he opened both eyes and started moving around,” the raptor center posted. “Looks like he is badly concussed, but may recover. Hopefully soon so he can return to helping his mate raise their chicks.”

The Chocolay Raptor Center was established in 2012. It rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured raptors, and provides environmental education, particularly for children.

Photo courtesy of the Chocolay Raptor Center