A trooper from the Mansfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol saved an injured owl on March 9.
Trooper Jason Beck received a call from dispatch that a passerby saw an owl along the roadway of U.S. 30 near U.S. 42.
“Luckily, Trooper Beck was available and nearby to check out the area. The owl, an adult barred owl, was on the side of Route 30 not looking so good,” Ohio Bird Sanctuary Curator of Animals Amanda Vanderford said.
“Trooper Beck was able to safely pull over, retrieve the owl and then transported it to our hospital at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, where we were able to start treatment right away,” Vanderford said.
The barred owl suffered blunt force trauma to the body and head, she said.
“Luckily, no broken bones that we can palpate, but will rule that out for sure once he is stable enough to get radiographs,” Vanderford said. “For now, we are treating with fluid therapy, anti-inflammatory and pain medications. Close monitoring will be key to a successful recovery. If the owl starts to decline, we can start more invasive treatments. He was otherwise healthy, so we are really hoping to get him back home.”
She said she was grateful for the people who called in about the owl and for the Ohio Highway Patrol and Trooper Beck for saving him.
A dispatcher at the Mansfield post said Beck, who was out on the road Tuesday, snuck up on the owl from behind and carried him to his cruiser without incident.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio Highway Patrol swoops in to rescued injured owl near Mansfield
Reporting by Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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