Update on our Churchill Blvd. great horned owl

As reported earlier this week by SooToday.com, a great horned owl took up residence in the backyard of Ruth and David Nicholson on Churchill Blvd.

A visiting wildlife photographer suspected the owl might be injured, so the Humane Society was called and our feathered friend was delivered to the Northland Animal Hospital on Trunk Road where it is currently recovering under the watchful eye of Dr. Craig.

Dr. Craig told us today that the first-year owl suffered some soft tissue damage to its left wing, but x-rays show no fractures or breaks.

However, the young owl is seriously emaciated and preliminary blood work delivered some concerning results.

"Sadly, about 40 percent of first years don't survive," he explained. "They just don't have the hunting skills to feed themselves."

Dr. Craig agreed that it was likely starvation that drove the owl to reportedly attack a small dog before nestling in on Churchill Blvd.

Northland Animal Hospital will be conducting further tests and will keep the animal until it is fully healed and healthy.

It will then be released into the wild.

Northland Animal Hospital is the only veterinary clinic in Sault Ste. Marie that cares for stray, ill, and injured wildlife and is fully licensed to do so by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Neither Dr. Craig nor the clinic receive any funding to pay for the care of these animals - all treatment costs are covered by Dr. Craig.