A snowy owl, one of two birds rescued by a Minnesota woman in a story that garnered widespread attention this week, has died due to severe injuries. The other owl, a great gray, is currently receiving intensive medical care.
The snowy owl, discovered by Annabell Whelan after colliding with a car, suffered a broken wing, a broken leg, and internal injuries. According to a statement released by the Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Duluth, the extent of these injuries meant the bird would be unable to fly again. Consequently, the difficult decision was made to euthanize the owl humanely.
Meanwhile, the great gray owl, also found by Whelan on the same day, sustained broken bones and significant soft tissue damage to its wing. While its injuries are considered severe, veterinarians at The Raptor Center in St. Paul are making concerted efforts to facilitate the bird's recovery.
Whelan, a guest experience manager at the Lake Superior Zoo, initially discovered the injured great gray owl on the ground in Two Harbors, Minnesota. She carefully transported the owl to Wildwoods. Remarkably, later that same day, Whelan discovered the injured snowy owl stuck in the grille of a vehicle. With Wildwoods closed at that point, she took the snowy owl home for the night.
Subsequently, both owls were transferred to The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota, where the great gray owl remains under treatment. The story has highlighted the critical role wildlife rehabilitation centers play in assisting injured animals.
