An owl whom vets called “Stinky” was rescued from a manure pit in Pennsylvania.
An owl that rescuers in Pennsylvania were able to save from a manure pit was given the nickname "stink." Later, as the rehabilitation was a success, the bird was given a new moniker.
Owl Stuck in Pennsylvania Manure Pit
At Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, Tracie Young and her coworkers frequently make the joke that the most urgent requests for animal rescue occur just as they are ready to leave for supper.
This phenomenon was never more evident than it was last month when Young received an urgent call from a nearby game warden as she was preparing to close for the evening.
The warden informed Young that he had just freed an owl that had spent the previous two days trapped in a manure pit on a nearby farm.
The only thing left to do, in Young's opinion, was to request the warden to bring the injured bird over as quickly as possible.
She then anticipated having a long night ahead.
Stinky, The Rescued Owl
Young was surprised by the foul smell emanating from the poor bird, even though she had anticipated the owl to be a little smelly. She started lovingly calling him Stinky.
Young could see that Stinky was very dehydrated as a result of spending two days in the scorching sun.
One of the owl's eyes appeared hazy and crimson, she also observed. The animal expert treated the bird right away with anti-inflammatory and pain medication as well as plenty of fluids. She gave the first of many baths after that.
The thankful owl, worn out by his ordeal, maintained his calm disposition.
Young claimed that the owl was exhausted from resisting and that he was quite subdued.
Successful Rehabilitation and a New Nickname
A few days later, Stinky had already started to change. His cloudy red eye was less bloated, and his feathers were glossier.
Young, though, observed that Stinky's wounded eye still had something behind it, and carefully probed the region with tweezers.
Young was devastated to see a BB gun pellet caught in the bird's eye socket when he peered behind the bird's eye. This must have been the reason the owl fell into the manure pit.
Amazingly, though, the tough owl was still able to see clearly despite his wound.
Young stopped referring to the owl as Stinky and began calling him by a new nickname: Lucky, astounded by the bird's recovery in the face of all odds.
Lucky continues to reside at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, where professionals are ensuring that he receives the care required for a complete recovery.
The lucky bird will be transferred to an outdoor flight enclosure in the upcoming weeks, where he can safely rediscover flying.
Lucky will be released again into the wild once he shows that he can manage. But, he will always have a place at the center.
Young is thankful that Lucky was able to receive the care he need because the stars were in the right place that fateful night.
The bird enthusiast is still in awe of Lucky's recovery and remarkable makeover.
Owls are raptors that take over the hawks' daytime hunting and feeding territories at night. They are excellent, specialized predators with the speed and efficiency necessary to locate, catch, and kill prey.
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