SANTA ROSA (KRON/AP) — An injured owl rescued by two Highway Patrol officers on Highway 101 last week is recovering at a bird rescue center.
Officer Justin Fetterly said the CHP received a call about an injured owl around noon last Friday on the highway near the Hearn Avenue exit in Santa Rosa. It appeared the bird had been struck by a vehicle.
Fetterly said he put on leather gloves and used an emergency blanket to wrap up the bird, which calmed down once it was held.
The Press Democrat reports that the owl was apparently struck by a vehicle on Highway 101 and has left eye damage and coordination problems.
The owl was brought to an emergency animal hospital in Santa Rosa. Volunteers then transferred the bird to the Santa Rosa-based Bird Rescue Center to receive more comprehensive care.
Ashton Kluttz, the director of avian care for the bird rescue center said that an exam found the owl had swelling on its left shoulder, damage to its left eye and suffered coordination problems.
Kluttz said the owl is improving daily and that once the bird is stable enough, it can eventually be released back into the wild, even with just one functioning eye.