Critter hit by truck was stuck in grille for 100 miles — and survived, rescuers say
UPDATE: The great horned owl was released into the wild after healing from its injuries, Think Wild Central Oregon said in a Sept. 7 Facebook post.
The original story is below.
A driver unknowingly struck a creature, then drove over 100 miles with it trapped in his truck’s grille, rescuers in Oregon said.
The critter turned out to be a great horned owl, Think Wild Central Oregon said in an Aug. 30 Facebook post.
It was first hit the night of Aug. 16 near Burns, the nonprofit’s spokesperson Molly Honea told McClatchy News by email. Then the man drove about 100 miles to Bend.
Once he made it home, he discovered the winged animal hidden in his truck’s grille, the nonprofit said.
The injured owl was taken to Think Wild Central Oregon, a hospital and conservation center, on Aug. 17.
Rescuers said the owl didn’t have any broken bones, but it did have head and eye trauma and inflammation on its right shoulder.
“We are treating and monitoring all symptoms and are guardedly optimistic that this owl will be able to return to the wild soon,” Honea said.
But before the owl is returned to the wild, rescuers will conduct flight and prey tests, Honea said.
Great horned owls are familiar patients at the rescue. So far this year, 26 owls have been treated. That number was 50 in 2022.
Vehicles and barbed wire entanglements are often the culprits for injuries to these birds, Honea said.
“Being nocturnal aerial predators makes them more susceptible to these human obstacles,” she said.
The nonprofit advised the public to watch for nocturnal animals while driving at night and to use more wildlife-friendly fencing.
Great horned owls are common throughout the state, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. These raptors are large and “stocky” with big yellow eyes and pointy ears.
This story was originally published September 1, 2023 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Critter hit by truck was stuck in grille for 100 miles — and survived, rescuers say."
