Great Horned Owl Released After Feather Replacement Surgery
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A great horned owl rescued from a concrete mixer last October has been successfully returned to the wild after six months of rehabilitation. The owl underwent a specialized feather replacement procedure to restore its silent flight, a critical survival skill. Its release was confirmed after flight tests in a large aviary.
Facts First
- A great horned owl was rescued from a concrete mixer in October by a Good Samaritan.
- The owl received six months of care at the Wild Friends wildlife refuge operated by Best Friends Animal Society.
- A feather replacement procedure called 'imping' was performed on May 1 to restore the owl's ability for silent flight.
- The owl's flight was tested using a decibel reader in an aviary before its release into the wild.
- The implanted feathers will be replaced naturally during future molts over several years.
What Happened
A great horned owl was found trapped in a concrete mixer in October. The individual who found it contacted the Best Friends Animal Society headquarters in Kanab, Utah. The owl was transferred to Wild Friends, a wildlife refuge operated by the nonprofit, where it received six months of care. To survive in the wild, the owl needed new feathers to achieve silent flight. The Wild Friends team trained for a procedure called imping, which uses donor feathers and adhesive to replace raptor feathers. Donor feathers were provided by a wildlife rescue group in Northern Utah from a deceased great horned owl of similar size. Supervisor Bart Richwalski tracked the owl's feather patterns by inspecting them every few weeks and snipping damaged shafts in advance. The imping procedure occurred on May 1 and lasted 90 minutes, involving Best Friends staff veterinarian Kelsey Paras and three members of the Wild Friends team. During the procedure, 10 primary feathers and one secondary feather were replaced in the owl's right wing; the left wing required no replacements.
Why this Matters to You
This story demonstrates the specialized care and collaboration available for wildlife rehabilitation in your region. If you encounter an injured wild animal, there are trained networks and procedures, like the imping technique used here, that can provide a path to recovery. The successful release of this owl suggests that even severe injuries can be addressed, allowing animals to return to their natural roles in the ecosystem.
What's Next
The owl has been released into the wild after flying out of the aviary through a retracting roof. The team informed that the implanted feathers will be replaced naturally during future molts, with the owl losing a few imp feathers each year until the wing is fully replaced. This gradual process means the owl's flight capability may continue to improve naturally over time.