May have saved a life!
Friday night found myself on a narrow road on the east side of Bear Lake Utah/Idaho. At 10:00 P.M. not too many cars. Brights on. Incredibly, right in front of the truck dang near in the middle of the road a big Owl! I had to investigate. No response when I pulled up, no response when I walked up, even petting got no response. This 24″ tall birds head slumped as if un-conscience. Was he hit by a car? I pulled a little at his wings and did a quick body check in the head lights of the truck. My side agreed that we needed to do something. He rode in the back of the truck till we arrived at our house (at the lake). We inspected him further in the house. His one eye was damaged. He wouldn’t open it. It was late. I placed him outside on the deck fully expecting to find him dead in the morning.
Before the sun came up my wife woke me and said look out the window…….here is the view though the window…..
Outside I took this shot. He had enough strength to get up on the handrail. But his eye was still closed and he barely kept the other eye open…….
When I approached he flew……..
Later at about 10:00 A.M……….
The next morning he moved to another place on the other side of the tree………
Close up of BAD eye……
The GOOD EYE………….
Both Eyes of a beautiful, beautiful animal….
This morning a quick check did not produce any sighting of the Big Guy! I hope he is out tonight. Hunting, eating and gliding about. Healthy and strong!
Cool Jim,
I’ll have to saym, this is one luck bird to have you pull up on him. Hopefully, he’ll keep rodents and snakes off your property by the lake…