Southern Arizona has some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Homes are built with picture windows that allow for viewing the sights as well as shielding the home in the summer months from the most intense sunlight. Perhaps you have windows like these or even larger.
In any case, these windows also can become incidental hazards for our avian desert dwellers. There are lots of reports of Cooper’s hawks chasing doves or quail during daylight hours and having those fleeing capture smashing into what, to the hunted, is an escape route. Homeowners report stunned or worse, maimed or killed, humming birds, quail, and doves that have mistaken a window as a path to safety. Rarely, but, recently, several incidences of Owls hitting windows, for whatever reason, have resulted in early morning loud thuds on picture windows. One such collision resulted in a Great Horned Owl hitting a picture window with such force that it set off the home alarms. Needless to say, the family and their dogs were startled and seriously concerned as to the nature of the sound of something hitting their picture window and then the subsequent screaming of their alarm. On the patio, outside the picture window, they found this Great Horned Owl, stunned and out-cold. 1st Response Wildlife was called and after an on-the-spot evaluation it was determined that, while the Owl was immobile, it was alive and should be taken to a licensed rehabber for further inspection. What remained a mystery was what had brought a Great Horned Owl onto a covered patio with such force that it ended up smashing into the picture window. 1st Response Wildlife carefully gathered up the Owl and transported it to a rehabilitation site. (Here you can see the Owl, in a safe transport carrier-still out-cold.)
Upon arrival at the rehabber, the Great Horned Owl, (pictured here), has recovered somewhat, but is still a little foggy.
The rehabber logged the Great Horned Owl into their facility-capturing location the Owl had its incident, time, and date. (This is for their log that must be kept and reported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department on all animals submitted for rehabilitation). A thorough inspection of the Owl was completed and it was determined that nothing was broken and it will be kept until it is fully back to normal, at which time, it will be released back into the wild. A discussion as to the reason for the Owl hitting the picture window in the first place remains a bit of a mystery but, since the rehabber has two more Owls that have also had picture window mishaps, there are some theories as to whether this particular Great Horned Owl was being chased by another Owl that wanted this one out of its territory. Theory being that there was no prey in or around the patio where this collision occurred and the Owl had to fly a ways into and under a significant patio overhang. There may never be a complete explanation for this mishap but, based on the physical condition of the Owl, and the care that will be provided by the rehabilitation center, the story appears to be headed to a happy ending for the Owl. The homeowner and the family where it occurred are happy that the Owl is doing well and they did not have any serious damage happen to their home.
While rescuing wildlife is not the primary service provided by 1st Response Wildlife, from time to time, capture and transport to a rehabilitation center is provided.
If you would like help with Nuisance animals, noises in your building, up in your attic, your chimney, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.
Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
