Mushu – Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
“Mushu” the Barn Owl, fell from her nest in a potato shed when she was just a few days old, in June 2012. The fall broke her leg in three places and despite the best efforts of the veterinarians, the leg sustained severe neurological damage, rendering it virtually useless. (We thought!) Though she could fly well, if released, we thought the non-functioning leg would severely impact her hunting success and she would probably starve to death.
So, she served as an Animal Ambassador for a few months, then a volunteer didn’t latch her pen correctly and she escaped. We were unable to catch her right away, but knew where she was and monitored her closely. It appears that she has taken up with three resident Barn Owls in Keno, who seem to be cooperatively feeding her and helping her get along. She has been seen with a mouse in her talons, so she is having some success on her own. We will continue to monitor her progress thru winter, but it seems that she has found the friends she needs to survive in the wild. Go Mushu!
