In a first for a local wildlife hospital, the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (PWRC) admitted six owls for care and recovery.
Julia Burcar, the Wildlife Education Program Coordinator and Facilitator at PWRC says that although they often have owl patients, six owls, especially from five different species, is a rare experience.
“Six owls have really surprised me. I’ve been involved in wildlife rehab in the province since 2019. So I’ve been able to see a fair number of animals. I don’t think I’ve ever seen six owls; well, I’ve seen groups of owls, but not five different species at the same time, which is super impressive.”
Manitoba is home to 11 species of owls, and the five species that were admitted to the centre included two great gray owls (Manitoba’s provincial bird), the great horned owl, the boreal owl, the short-eared owl, and the northern hawk owl.
Some of these patients might have been struggling to get through the winter, explains Burcar, with one of the great grays and the great horned putting on some weight before being released. However, she says the others were in rougher shape.
“One had a window strike out by Polo Park around the bus loop area, which is really interesting to think about. Definitely not the spot you would expect to see a little boreal owl… And then the northern hawk owl was actually hit by a car. So, this is not an uncommon thing we see with birds of prey. Like even with the hawks and falcons, eagles, and owls, because when they’re hunting something, they’re pretty much laser-focused on things just like us.”
Some of these owls are now ready to be released, including the short-eared owl, which was returned to the wild on January 25-26. This owl, brought in from the north, had suffered a window strike, a common injury for many birds that come to the centre.
About 80 per cent of the animals treated at the hospital are birds, many of which are injured by road collisions, window strikes, or chemicals. As natural habitats continue to shrink, owls and other wildlife are increasingly adapting to city environments, and incidents like window strikes and car collisions are becoming more frequent.
“They’re learning to cope. They’re learning to figure out how to live amongst us.”
Burcar explains that through educational programs, the centre helps raise awareness and teaches students and parents about protecting and living with wildlife.
“It’s also really important that we care for our planet, and one of the residents of our planet that sometimes we might take for granted is the wildlife. So going out to schools, talking to adults, talking to kids, people of really all ages allows them to maybe foster an appreciation or deepen their appreciation, or if not even just being more aware of like, oh hey, like there is a lot of birds hitting my windows. I’m going to get those stickers to put on so that fewer birds will hit my window kind of thing.”
Burcar acknowledges that topics like habitat loss, creating animal-safe cities, and caring for injured wildlife can be tough to discuss. That’s where wildlife ambassadors, like Yahzi, the saw-whet owl, come in. Yahzi could not be released after a shoulder injury that didn’t heal properly. Burcar says these ambassadors, all once patients at the centre, spark curiosity and can lead to pursuing a career working with animals or making small changes that make our homes safer for wildlife.
“I talk to kids about this often, and even adults by doing neighbourhood cleanups make a huge difference. Animals can get into the garbage, and garbage is also really bad for the environment. I still see people littering on a daily basis, chucking coffee cups out of their windows or tossing something onto the road. So there are really small things that we can be aware of.”
Although seeing animals sick and injured is never pleasant, Burcar notes that having five different owl species in care simultaneously is an opportunity to further wildlife conservation education and efforts. The centre continues raising funds to construct a wildlife rehabilitation centre on the 43-acre property purchased south of Selkirk, Manitoba. It also accepts donations to pay for the medical care, space, and food for the thousands of animals who pass through its doors annually.
If you have found a wild animal that may be orphaned or injured, PWRC encourages you to call 204-510-1855.
– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural
