Wildlife Medical Clinic Resident Birds of Prey
Meet Nokomis, a Great Horned Owl
Nokomis is a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). In April 2003, a local wildlife rehabilitator brought us a baby Great Horned Owl (GHO) who could not fly. Radiographs revealed a broken right humerus, the largest of the wing bones. Shortly after his arrival, Nokomis underwent surgery to repair his fractured wing.
Metal pins were inserted into the bone fragments to hold them in place and an external fixator was placed on the outside of the bone to stabilize the pins. He was given antibiotics and physical therapy and recovered enough to be sent to a rehabilitator. However, the rehabber sent him back to the WMC for two reasons - first because his right wing was still drooping, and second because he had an unusually docile demeanor for a GHO.
Normally, Great Horned Owls are very aggressive and will clack their beaks and hiss when they feel threatened, using their beaks as well as their talons to defend themselves. Additionally, Great Horned Owls are territorial animals and must be aggressive to defend their hunting grounds.
Nokomis has yet to clack, hiss or try to bite or talon anyone - a very unusual occurrence for a GHO. He was very curious from the start and loves to watch everything that happens in the clinic from his perch. He became one of our residents after it was determined he could not survive on his own in the wild and now serves as a beautiful ambassador for his species.
Learn how to adopt Nokomis