A beautiful barred owl in Toronto is thanking its lucky stars today (or, more likely, eating mice and stuff) after getting lost in the concrete jungle with no way to escape—and then being found by kindly humans.
Brad Gates, president of the Scarborough-based humane wildlife removal company AAA Gates' Wildlife Control, says his firm was called to check out reports of an owl in the CF Toronto Eaton Centre's underground garage last Tuesday.
"It had been there for a couple days, but was unable to find its way out," said Gates by phone on Monday, explaining that the large bird likely chased some prey down an Eaton Centre ramp and into the building.
Barred From The Toronto Eaton Centre
— Brad Gates (@GatesWildlife) November 12, 2018
The concrete jungle is home to a variety of wildlife that are often thought of as “forest” dwellers. For nocturnal birds of prey the city provides a never-ending supply of rats, rabbits etc., making it their preferred habitat. pic.twitter.com/HzVfezL7Zj
Two technicians were sent to check out the situation and, after they corralled the owl into a smaller space and used a tarp to contain it, they were able to safely and gently capture it with a net.
Gates documented the process on Twitter, sharing photos today of the owl before, during and after its release.
I mean, it's not every day that a bird of prey gets trapped in the Eaton Centre.
Gates Wildlife technicians Nick and Blake recently responded to this emergency call. Upon their arrival they quickly located and began to strategically approach the owl. With nets in hand they slowly placed them over the owl, careful not to injure the bird or themselves. pic.twitter.com/8Meq3tbPZm
— Brad Gates (@GatesWildlife) November 12, 2018
"Most often people are going to see them in a forested area," said Gates of barred owls, which are native to eastern North America.
That said, "It made sense that this owl and other owls have little pockets of habitat in the city," he said. "They go into the urban jungle because food is plentiful, like raccoons and squirrels."
Ah yes, the Toronto raccoons: Our fat and brilliant little friends.
Gates is quite familiar with the behaviour of raccoons, as his company often relocates families from places that aren't safe for them. In fact, both raccoons and skunks have caused trouble at the Eaton Centre over the years (one of them, a very stinky problem).
Gates Wildlife assisted Pickering Animal Services get this baby Great Horned owl back in a tree. #rescued #pickering #pickeringanimalservices #greathornedowl pic.twitter.com/iRR3dQRz2q
— Brad Gates (@GatesWildlife) April 13, 2018
Owls, though, are less commonly in need of rescue.
"The only other owl we got called out to this year was a great horned owl baby," said Gates. "He tried to leave the nest and ended up on the ground, right before the ice storm in April."
With help from Pickering Animal Services, that owl was released back into a tree, just like the barred owl wildlife control professionals rescued last Tuesday.
"As soon as we opened up the net, it flew a short distance," said Gates. "It quickly settled into a tree no worse for the wear.
This Barred Owl was taken from the underground location and released in an alley off of Bay Street. It quickly settled into a tree no worse for the wear. pic.twitter.com/hgpct4NEiN
— Brad Gates (@GatesWildlife) November 12, 2018
by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO
No comments:
Post a Comment