Baby Injured Owl Question

[dieselgrl48]

My daughter called me earlier.Apparently her cousin found an injured baby owl in the road last night.She called me to ask what do they eat etc.He brought the owl to her she said the poor thing is missing an eye but otherwise seem's ok.I told her she should call wildlife first thing tomm. being it's Sun here.I read that you should not try to feed them being young they need to learn to hunt and are very Apt here they were born.The best thing I found was put it in a dark cardboard box and offer water.I don't know the first thing about owl's but they are wild and from what I have read they need special care and live food.Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Definitely call a wildlife rehab center! Chances are, you should be able to talk to someone even though it's Sunday. If you can't reach a wildlife rehabber today and have to wait until tomorrow, just keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet place until tomorrow when you call the wildlife rehab center. If it's drinking on its own that should be all right, but be sure any water you offer it is very shallow and do not try to force it to drink, and do not feed it anything. If it starts sitting in the water bowl, take the bowl away so the owl doesn't get itself too chilled. It should be all right until you can contact a rehabber (even if it's tomorrow), and it's better not to risk aspirating it or feeding it the wrong thing.

I'm a wildlife rehabber myself, so this is the advice I'd give you if you called my group. (Well, actually I'd transfer you to our raptor center, but that's beside the point!)

Good luck! I hope the baby makes it. Even with one eye, they can oftentimes make it.

 

[my3chickens]

Wildlife Rescue Inc, in MD is open 24/7 and may be able to refer you to another rehabber in your area..... 443-507-0950. I used to volunteer there and it sounds like at this point you're doing all the right things.... Just be sure to follow Silver's advice and provide water but do not attempt to force it to drink.

Best of luck!