Believe me, this was a traumatic event for all concerned.
Yesterday morning while driving west on the South Road in the Centennial Valley of southwest Montana we found this beautiful Barn Owl hanging from barbed wire along the side of the road. In its struggles to escape the owl had wrapped its wing around the sharp double barb that had penetrated its flesh to the point that it was bleeding and I couldn’t get the owl off the wire easily. First I cut both barbs off but I still couldn’t disentangle the owl so I had to cut out a 2′ piece of the wire with the owl still attached to it.
Then we laid the owl on my pickup tailgate (partially wrapped in a towel) and began the extraction process. At that point a near-miracle occurred. A car drove up on the deserted road and it happened to be Bill West, Manager of nearby Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Bill was on his way to a meeting in Dillon (roughly 80 miles away) and helped me to extract the owl from the wire. We wrapped it up in his jacket and Bill took it to the Humane Society in Dillon where arrangements were made to transport it to a rescue center in Bozeman.
My next concern was the wire I had cut. “Cuttin’ fences” is serious business in cattle country – cows can get out and both people and cows can be killed in accidents when they do, not to mention the fact that ranchers aren’t happy when they have to chase down their cattle.
So after a while I went back to the fence and patched it temporarily with a piece of rope and Mia tied a couple of pieces of yellow ribbon on the posts so that the folks that Bill sent to repair the fence could find the break. You can see my patch of the top wire at the top of the vertical wire.
A closer look at the patch job. I hope it holds until they get it repaired.
At this point I can only hope the owl survives, can be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. It is a stunningly beautiful bird and it was scared to death yet it was gentle with us as we tried to get it off the wire.
Ron
PS – Barn Owls are virtually unheard of in Montana so that makes me even more hopeful that this one can be returned to where it was found.
Thank you for cutting the wire. We received a beautiful young great horned owl that had been tangled in a barbed wire fence, but the farmer didn’t want to cut the wire. Instead he cut the owls wing tendon that was wrapped around the wire. Unfortunately we could not repair the damage and the owl could not be saved.
Thank you for saving this wonderful owl. It is good to hear it is doing okay so far. I hope you are able to keep us posted as it recovers.
Thank you, Ron! So happy that the owl survived. I am so moved by great people like you, Mia and Bill. The owl wouldn’t have survived if not for your experience of sighting and photographing owls all these years, and frequent photography drives, and your kind heart.
Way to go, Ron and Mia. Thank God for caring people like you.
Ron, I cried when I saw that beautiful Barn Owl hung up on that wire. Thank heavens you came by when you did. Thank you and Mia so much for rescuing him from certain death. I am so greatful to both of you. Ron, I live on the East Coast and usually don’t come across barbed wire. Isn’t there anything else that can be used to keep the cattle in and the other wildlife safe? I still remember the fate of the other owl you found that had already died. I hope this owl hasn’t suffered much and doesn’t have babies waiting for food. Thank you and God bless both of you.
Hi!
I am so proud of you and Mia!!I know that someone on high and the native American Indian God sent you two and Bill to be there to Help The Owl! How else could be explained for its help to be there/ Hope the Owl will be okay and the rest of the trip will be great?
Thank you, everyone. The Montana Raptor Conservation Center reports that this owl has some soft tissue damage in its wing but there are no broken bones. Only time will tell if the bird can be released back into the wild.
And as of this afternoon the fence has been repaired.
This is heart-wrenching. I am so glad that you and Mia found it and were able to rescue it. I hope that rehabilitation works out for it, that this potential tragedy has a happy ending.
Heartbreaking.
Thank you, thank Mia, thank Bill.
Fingers, toes and eyes crossed.
SO glad you were willing and able to help the owl. It is a beautiful bird and, hopefully, can be rehabilitated. I’m sure the rancher much appreciates your fixing the wire – fences ARE a big deal. That wouldn’t occur to many folks!
As Mikal said, this happens all too often and and the outcome is rarely positive (hate to dampen everyone’s hopes!) – the damage done by the barbs to the soft tissue and blood vessels often leads to dry gangrene – where the tissue simply dies because it does not have an adequate blood supply. OR hanging by a wing dislocates the shoulder. Or a bad infection sets in despite good antibiotic therapy… or myriad other problems. But, as was said, cutting the wire is the best solution – the damage to the bird when folks try to cut the bird out without cutting the wire is horrendous. I SO hate barbed wire! Using the flags or mylar strips or plastic pieces that roll make all the difference in the world for visibility and safety. But I would die happy if I managed to get the damned stuff banned worldwide..!
Lucky owl, thank you to all!
Sad to report, but rehabilitators see the results of owl vs. barbed wire regularly. You did the right thing to cut the wire. We’ve seen fools that cut the wing instead. Your posting of the rescue will alert your followers to step up when they see the need. Thank you!
Thanks for your rescue work!
Kudos to you and Mia for taking action. How many others would just drive on by? Our thoughts will concentrate on sending positive energy to the owl and those caring for it.
As for you guys, well, we already love ya!
Thank you and Mia and Bill for being the angels this bird needed. God watches over the birds but sometimes we have to be the angel to help out. God bless you all for helping.
Almost didn’t open your posting…couldn’t bear what I might see…I HATE that effing stuff so much!!! As it turned put, opened it by accident while hoping owl was still alive and you and Mia were able to save it. Thankfully, you did. Still can’t get the image of the dead Burrowing owl out of my mind. I call the effing stuff “Devil Wire”…horses, pronghorns, owls….SHIT!!!
Thank goodness for you and Mia Ron. That owl could be the luckiest owl ever that you drove by at the right time. Barbed wire is horrible. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I am so glad that you were driving by and noticed it hanging. We have a barn oel, Larry (also known as Grumpy Larry!) He gets very territorial and does this squeeky/hissing sound when he’s not too happy. Unfortunately, we don’t see them in theIraq natural habitat in northern New York. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures.
Oh boy what a relief to see that for now that Owl has a second chance to live, thanks to both of you. I hope it can survive the trauma and the injuries.
I hate barbed wire.
Like Donald J Kaleta said we have the same problem here with the “Great Bustard” (“Abetarda” in Portuguese)and there is an ONG (LPN) who is doing a great job to prevent those situations.
Please keep us posted.
I once saw a cattle egret with a wing that was nearly completely amputated. A friend and I chased that bird through swamps (literally…this was in south Louisiana) until we were able to capture it. I removed the wing, bandaged it loosely and got it to the vet the next day. He or she survived to be re-homed to a sanctuary. The Great White I found with a blown knee had to be euthanized. Poor thing could stand but couldn’t maneuver to eat. That was a sad day for all concerned. I worked for a vet at that time and he had tears in his eyes. I’m so glad you were there at the right time and that the wildlife guy was too. Good for you all!
Way to go Ron! Nothing better than the feeling you get when you help save a beautiful creature…well done!!
I don’t know if your trip can be any more successful than that, Ron. With your permission, I’d like to post a link in the NPN forums.
A toast to Bird Heroes!
Permission granted neil.
Done deal.
That’s deeply moving, and I’m so glad you had the courage and presence of mind to rescue the owl and that Bill drove by when he did to bring the owl to a safe haven to heal. Also, nice job on the fence! 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping, for noticing, and for helping. I’m thinking you couldn’t have done anything else, but thank you anyway. I’ve always hated barbed wire and curse its inventor, and while I understand its usage for containing cattle, it’s ubiquitous everywhere, cattle or no, because it’s (comparatively) cheap. DARGH!
Here’s hoping the barny can be released!
Thank you Ron for noticing the owl in trouble and taking action! I hope it will recover and be released back to the wild (most likely it will). With all the fences it makes me wonder how many owls are not as fortunate as this one. I predict your good karma will come to you on this trip with your short-eared owl friends up there giving you some aerial displays! That would make me very happy to see and reinforce that good things come to good people.
Hello Ron, your photo and determination to save a life (barn owl in this case) is another clear example on the perils of Barbed Wire fences; that are economical to install yet are a hazard to those that do not detect the wire barrier, ESPECIALLY in darkness! The dire consequences of low bird flights are well documented with Barbed Wire in the western states with Sage Grouse ( contact Sage Grouse Initiative ) and across the pond in Portugal with the “Great Bustard”. VISIBILITY of the Barbed Wire barrier does mitigate these issues and you will note on our web site FENCE-FLAG.COM efforts by some to put boots on the ground to make a difference. DJK
Great job Ron! Appreciate the post and a job well done!!
I too am glad you came upon the Owl. What a beauty. It must have been so painful. Sounds like Angels were with the Owl, so it could get help. Let us know how the Owl is doing. You did a good mending job with the fence. By the way. My Hubby and I love Bozeman. Pretty town, and the people are wonderful.
OMG, Ron!! Thank God you and Mia were there to rescue the beautiful owl!! It’s also amazing how animals can sense when you are trying to help them. Will be praying that it can be healed and released.
It’s heartbreaking, Ron. But, thank god that you were able to save it. I am sure the owl will be out of danger. May be you could update us about it?
I really appreciate your concern about saving the cows and people from accident. What an amazing feat. Hats off to you! Ron.
Boy,I know how tramatic this is. The same thing happened in our neighborhood years ago. An idiot was practicing casting in his front yard, got his line caught in a tree,just cut it off and of course the Barred Owl got tangled up in it.we also had a similar miracle when we were able to get a rehab center who drove about 50 miles one way to pick it up. They were able to rehab it and they returned it to release it.That’s when I found out how territorial they are. Allstars well that ends well. Glad you ere the one who found it and rescued it! Certainly a lucky owl!
Charlotte
Thank you…