High above the water, tangled in fishing line, a young Great Horned Owl struggled to free himself.
On April 1, WildCare received a report of an owl hanging from a tree branch over open water. The rescue was complicated by strong winds and the bird’s location, which made him impossible to reach from shore.
Responders from Marin Humane, along with Ranger Michael Faus of Marin Municipal Water District, used an inflatable raft to safely access the owl. Despite the difficult conditions, they were able to free him from the fishing line and transport him to WildCare for care.
A Familiar Patient
During his intake exam, WildCare’s hospital team noticed a metal band on the owl’s leg.
That band revealed something remarkable: this owl had been a patient at WildCare before.
Almost exactly one year earlier, he had been admitted as a nestling after falling from his nest. WildCare’s Raptor Reunite Team placed him into an artificial nest, allowing him to be raised by his parents in the wild. Before being returned, this bird was banded by researchers from Golden Gate Raptor Observatory.
Encounters like this are rare. Fewer than half of young raptors survive their first year. This owl did.
He dispersed several miles from his original nest and had been successfully living in the wild until his recent entanglement.
Treatment and Recovery
When he arrived at WildCare, the owl was cold, waterlogged, and tightly entangled in fishing line wrapped around his primary flight feathers.
WildCare’s medical team carefully removed the line and performed a full examination, including X-rays. Fortunately, no fractures or permanent damage were found.
After a night of supportive care, including fluids, rest, and pain management, the owl was moved to an aviary for flight testing. He demonstrated strong, stable flight with no signs of soft tissue or nerve injury.
With no complications identified, he was cleared for release.
Back to the Wild
After only a short stay, the owl was returned to the wild.
His successful release marked a rare and meaningful moment for the team: seeing a former patient not only survive, but thrive, and return again to his natural environment.
A Preventable Danger
Fishing line entanglement is a hazard WildCare sees regularly.
Discarded line can remain in the environment for years, posing a serious risk to birds and other wildlife. Animals may become trapped, unable to fly or move freely, often leading to severe injury or death.
This owl was fortunate. Many are not.
Live Well With Wildlife
WildCare’s work extends beyond treating injured animals. Through wildlife rehabilitation, education, advocacy and community outreach, we help people understand how their actions impact the animals around them.
Simple steps, including properly disposing of fishing line, avoiding rodenticides and learning how to safely coexist with wildlife, can prevent many of the injuries we see in our hospital.
Support Wildlife Care
Every rescue and recovery at WildCare is made possible by community support.
Your gift helps provide expert medical care for injured wildlife and supports education and outreach that can prevent these situations from happening in the first place.