Wounded Owl Recovers At Broomfield Raptor Rehab Center

ARVADA, CO -- It wasn't a visit from Harry Potter's feathered familiar, Hedwig, but an Arvada resident was concerned Monday when she observed a great horned owl had camped out on her walkway. When the owl didn't move for more than four hours, she called Arvada Police's Animal Management department, who suspected the raptor was injured, according to Arvada Police.

"Animal Management Officer Whittle went out and was able to catch the owl rather quickly much to the delight of the dozens of neighbors now on-scene," the Arvada Police Dept. Facebook page said.

The female bird was taken to Birds of Prey Foundation in Broomfield and diagnosed with a "fractured radius or ulna," police said.

One of the Birds of Prey rehab workers explained that typically in these cases the intact bone will hold the fractured one in place and the bird can heal without surgery. Once the bone is healed, the owl can practice flying at the rehab facility to wear down the callus before returning to the wild.

Birds of Prey Foundation has been rehabilitating injured winged creatures since 1979. Now, they focus on larger birds and raptors such as eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, vultures, herons, pelicans, grebes, and ravens.

For other species of injured or orphaned wild birds and mammals along the Front Range, the organization recommends contacting Greenwood Wildlife (303)823-8455.

In 2017, the foundation accepted more than 270 raptors into their care at an intensive care unit and rehabilitation flight enclosure near Broomfield. The organization also runs a thrift shop to help pay for rehabilitation of the birds.

Image via Arvada Police