Rescue

Story via Volunteer Eric Cole and Bridgette McCue: Bridgette and I were at an Eagle Scout ceremony with Jefferson, our bald eagle, when Bridgette received a call from Lynn regarding a red tail hawk found on Coldwater Road by I69. Kaitlyn and Alex, two new volunteers who are working toward being bird handlers, came along for the rescue. The city Police as well as the caller were on the scene helping divert traffic away from the injured bird. The poor fella was on his feet and alert. I was concerned for his safety because traffic was passing close by and I feared he may get hit again. Twice he...Read more

Story via Volunteer Lynne: On December 4th I got a call from a woman in Shipshewana, IN, who found a hawk on the ground and assumed that there must be something wrong with it. I asked if the hawk was bleeding, or seemed injured in any way. She said it seemed to walk funny. I told her that hawks are often on the ground and sometimes after they eat they find it difficult to take off and fly. I suggested that she go about her day, and if the bird was still there later that day to call us back. Later that day she called back and said she had spoken to a rehabber in Brown County Indiana, and that...Read more

Story via Volunteer Mary Koher: I received a call from Lynnanne asking if I could meet her in the southwest part of Fort Wayne for a transfer. We met up and she handed over a very quiet Eastern Screech owl that didn’t have a very good day. It seems that Duke Energy had contracted with a tree company to take down a few trees around some power lines. Here this little owl was just sleeping in his cavity when all of a sudden…THUD. He fell 25 ft down to the ground! Thankfully the tree service found him and contacted the DNR who in turn contacted Lynnanne. I got him to our treatment and recovery...Read more

Story via Volunteer : Lynnanne Dennison - Fager There was a time and place in American history when an open door was an invitation for neighbors to drop in, unannounced. Seated at the kitchen table, the visitors would be served a cup of coffee, perhaps a piece of coffee cake or pie. In today’s world, it’s rare to find an inviting door left open, and more so to have the visitor be covered in feathers. Such was the case when the Miami County Purdue Extension Office propped its kitchen door open and a red-tailed hawk waltzed in for a short, neighborly visit. Of course, the staff were a bit...Read more

Story via Volunteer Kim Westfall : Homeowner noticed a soaked Redtail Hawk in the rain sitting in a ditch for most of the afternoon before calling the DNR. DNR contacted Jeremy Mason a State Trooper who is also a Falconer to come rescue the Redtail Hawk. Jeremy told me once he got there, the bird was across the street sitting on a fence. They approached the bird and it flew very low about 30 yards and landed in a cow pasture. He was able to throw a blanket over the bird, after a few attempts. Bird was very feisty and was trying to talon him. I met up with him and I did the initial exam. I was...Read more

Story via Volunteer Gary Harshberger : I responded to a call fro SHRR Dispatcher concerning and injured baby Owl in Van Buren Indiana. Upon arrival the property owners reported finding the young Screech Owl cling to the leg of a table in the yard. They said it was using the left wing in moving around but never lifted the right wing. Upon examining the bird in the field I found little movement (which Doctor Funnel says is common for the spices, they will play possum while being handled.) I also found no other injury, but the bird was somewhat protective of the right wing. The bird seemed...Read more