Positive outlook for owl hit by car in Lumby

A northern saw-whet owl hit by a car in Lumby and rescued by a bystander late last month survived the impact.

The bird had a blown-out eye, bloody beak and bruised chest and it wasn’t clear if it would live.

Numerous helping hands got the tiny raptor to care at the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in the Lower Mainland after it was found severely injured on Nov. 25.

Eight days later, the owl is on the mend.

“Yep, he’s doing fine. His eye is not going to be functional, but so far so good the meds seem to be working so we’re just taking our time with him to see how it’s all going to heal up,” said the society’s general manager Rob Hope. “If he’s releasable, he’ll come back to where he is from.”

Every year the rehabilitation society receives numerous raptors hit by vehicles, some killed on impact and some left with head trauma, broken bones or eye injuries. Many are successfully treated and released back into the wild.

Often raptors get hit after ingesting poison, such as rat poison, that causes them to fly with less coordination. Sometimes owls are hit eating foods scraps on the road that have been thrown out car windows.

At this time of year, owls are at greater risk of getting hit by vehicles because the nights are longer and the owls are active earlier. The society asks the public to be more vigilant to roadsides in open and forested areas where the birds might be hunting.

If you find an injured or orphaned raptor you can call the OWL emergency line at 604-946-3171.