2024 Great Horned Owl available for Static Display

Home / Bulletin Board / 2024 Great Horned Owl available for Static Display

Click to enlarge image.

Contact Information
Contact Kaitlyn Bohnet
Phone: 231-994-3908
Visit Website

Country: United States

Species: Bubo Virginianus

Is rehabilitation complete?: yes

This animal has potential as a : static display animal

This animal is: wild reared

Age: Adult

Reason for entering rehabilitation.:

Entered rehabilitation as a fledgling with a hallux injury and severe sinus infection. The hallux was surgically removed, and he has maintained perfect foot health since. Sinus infection caused a slight visual deficit on L eye, despite appearing normal (per veterinarian). Full medical and behavioral history available upon request.

Days in care: 880

Issues developed while undergoing rehabilitation.:

N/A

Body condition score (5 point scale as defined on https://nagonline.net/3877/body-condition-scoring/): 3.5

Can the animal express species-typical behaviors (e.g. eat appropriate whole foods, climb, perch, groom, dig, fly, swim, ambulate normally for species)?:

This great horned owl can express all species appropriate behaviors, is fully flighted, enjoys a bath, and loves enrichment of all kinds. He currently lives in a wooded area, and enjoys watching the deer and other wildlife activities through his aviary.

Can the animal be handled without negative welfare affects?: yes

This is how the animal currently reacts when a frequent caregiver nears it (e.g. does it modify behavior, show signs of fear, agonism, habituation):

While initially a voluntary participant in off-site programs, over the last year, Walden the GHOW has elected to decline participation by either not flying to the glove or declining to voluntarily load into his crate. We have worked to rearrange the antecedent conditions in an effort to get him to say 'yes', but have come to the conclusion that his aversion it to the glove, and his welfare would better be served by living in a display environment. He has, previously, been fluent in in-habitat flights, stationing, voluntary scale behaviors, etc. with handlers who have taken the time to build trust with him. Currently, he will still station to his 'training' perch upon entry of a familiar trainer, and will occasionally target train to other stations, gently accepting hand-delivered reinforcers. Hoots semi-regularly at the beginning of training sessions.

This is how the animal currently reacts when a stranger nears it (e.g. does it modify behavior, show signs of fear, agonism, habituation):

If a stranger approaches the front of the habitat, Walden will elect to move to a middle or rear-located perch, offering a buffer of space. If he is startled, he will beak clack and typically settle in. Early on in his tenure with us, we discovered that the open-sky style of ceiling was causing stress. We found that covering the mesh ceiling with bamboo-reed material to mimic canopy cover extinguished those stress behaviors and would recommend something similar at his new facility to set him up for success.

This animal is currently house : alone

Will the animal need continuous medical care (e.g. medication)?: no

Physical health welfare assessment: good life

Mental/emotional health welfare assessment: life worth living

More Information

Additional photos, videos, behavioral history, and medical history all available upon request.