Sudbury-area wildlife centre caring for starving owls this winter

The Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre, located north of Sudbury in the community of Val Caron, is caring for more owls this winter than ever before, with many arriving on the verge of starvation due to the season’s harsh conditions.

Officials at the centre say close to 15 emaciated owls have been admitted this winter, all requiring specialized care before being released back into the wild.

Gloria Morissette, an authorized wildlife custodian and founder of the centre, said she is attributing the spike in starving owls to the heavy snowfall, which has made it difficult for the birds to hunt their prey.

“One of the theories for that is because of the heavy snow we have had this year. They are having a harder time reaching their prey, which is usually mice or rodents,” Morissette said.

Rehabilitating the owls is a delicate process, as their weakened state requires careful attention.

“It’s quite a daunting process because they are in a starvation condition, so their body condition is very poor. You can’t feed them right away, or else they can’t digest the food. That can actually kill them,” Morissette said.

Among the patients is a Great Grey owl, found with an injured wing and brought to the centre by a member of the public. Wildlife technician Julie Vasseur, who is overseeing the owl’s care, said the injury appears to be a muscle wound rather than a broken bone.

“We are not sure what exactly occurred with it, but a kind person brought him into us,” she said.

“We had him go into the vet. There are no breaks or anything, but we figured he probably had some muscle wound.”

Another patient, a saw-whet owl, was admitted after hitting a window and sustaining head trauma. Caretakers at the centre told CTV News that the bird is recovering well.

“He came in very weak. We got him back healthier now, and he is stable at only 88 grams. We are hoping to have him released in the near future,” said Vasseur.

Feeding the owls is a costly endeavour. The birds are initially given an oral liquid before transitioning to frozen mice, which the centre purchases at over $3 per mouse.

“The food for the owls is very expensive. Some of the larger owls will eat from six to eight mice a day,” said Morissette.

In addition to the owls, Turtle Pond is caring for a variety of other animals – including a porcupine, several coyotes and foxes with mange, turtles with broken shells and many other species displaced or injured over the winter.

The centre, which receives no government funding, relies entirely on donations to support its work rehabilitating sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.

For more information on the centre, visit Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre’s website or follow them on social media.