This Eastern Screech Owl (23-4998) was discovered in Fort Lauderdale unable to fly. With a confirmed left wing fracture, the wing was placed in a wrap to allow for proper alignment while healing. Severe trauma was also noted in the right eye. With regular bandage changes and physical therapy, this patient’s wing has healed nicely. After over a month in care and several visits with an ophthalmologist, the condition of the owl’s eye continued to degrade. The decision was made to surgically remove

A well-camouflaged little raptor, the Whiskered Screech-Owl’s U.S. population even managed to hide from scientists until almost the dawn of the 20th century. It’s easy to see why it took a while: Although a bit smaller and with slightly more heavily scalloped underparts, the Whiskered Screech-Owl very closely resembles the two other U.S. screech-owls, the Western and the Eastern. Once documented, the bird currently known as the Whiskered Screech-Owl was initially called the Arizona Whiskered Owl