The owl had been rescued on the shoulder of the I-270 outerbelt in November by a Columbus driver who took the injured raptor to Ohio Wildlife Center's free Wildlife Hospital for treatment. It had wing and eye injuries and spent several weeks at the Hospital before being transferred to the Center's Pre-Release Facility to begin its rehabilitation in flight skills and catching prey.
The snowy owl's appearance in Ohio is rare as they typically breed in the arctic tundras of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia. Ohio Wildlife Center records indicate it is the first snowy owl admitted to the hospital in at least 15-20 years. They are the largest owls in North America, with five-foot wingspans and a preference for open areas and daytime hunting.
Ohio Wildlife Center, working in cooperation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the United States Department of Agriculture, set up the owl's release at a state wildlife area near Wyandotte and Marion Counties north of Columbus. The raptor has been banded to potentially provide information on migration patterns. Assistance in assessing the owl's vision and ocular injuries was provided by Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Medical care addressed head trauma, lesions in the retina and a wing fracture. The female raptor was provided with nutrition and pain control as well to allow healing to return to full flight and hunting capabilities.
Because snowy owls typically spend summers hunting in the arctic regions of Alaska and Canada and favor flat, wide open spaces with few trees, the Ohio release site offered a vast area of fields and wetlands.
"This is an exciting and fulfilling moment for everyone at Ohio Wildlife Center who worked toward the successful recovery and release of this snowy owl," said Dusty Lombardi, executive director of the center. "Our free community Wildlife Hospital provided the crucial care in an emergency situation and our goal from the beginning was to see this snowy owl fly to freedom."
Sightings of snowy owls increased in the Midwest this year because periodic southern migrations of snowy owl flocks, called irruptions, have occurred recently in areas around the Great Lakes. In 2014, an irruption was cited for more than 150 sightings of snowy owls across Ohio.
About Ohio Wildlife Center
Ohio Wildlife Center is dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of Ohio's native wildlife through rehabilitation, education and wildlife health studies.
Ohio Wildlife Center is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that receives no operational funds from state, federal or local government and relies on charitable donations to support its free Wildlife Hospital. The hospital treats more than 5,000 animals annually.
Contact the Ohio Wildlife Center at (614) 734-9453.
