Non-profit group saves Pennsylvania owl
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One of Pennsylvania's tiniest owls was released this week after being rescued from a cold swimming pool in the Lancaster area, according to wildlife rehabilitation center Raven Ridge in Lancaster County.
Wildlife Conservation Officer John Veylupek rescued the Eastern Screech Owl from the pool and took it to the rehab center, unsure if it was still alive.
"When we opened the box, we found the little owl wet and cold. It took several hours to dry and warm it up," the center said in a news release.
The owl was uninjured, but exhausted, and after a few days of fluids, rest and good meals, it was returned to the wild.
The rescue said these owls come in two main colors -- gray, most common in the state, and red.
Eastern screech-owls are carnivores, eating mammals, birds, earthworms, insects, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs and lizards. They usually fly down from trees to catch their prey, but they rarely hover while hunting. They also help control small mammal populations and can eat more than 1,000 mice in a year.
"These little owls are clever and sometimes 'play dead' (thanatosis) as a way to protect themselves when they feel threatened or scared. They might stretch out or slump over to look hurt, but they can quickly perk up again," the rescue reported.
According to the rescue center, "the smaller the bird, the bigger the attitude. ... If you ever hear a sound like a horse whinnying at night, it's probably the small but mighty screech owl."
Raven Ridge is a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center in Washington Borough, specializing in healing injured birds of prey, mammals and waterfowl in the Lancaster County area.