MONROE - A sick great horned owl chick was rescued last week after students found it on the playground of Northside Elementary School.
The chick, then only 2 and a half weeks old, was found struggling on the playground March 28, Northside Principal Amy Timmerman said.
"Our students are very compassionate," Timmerman said, adding that the students in the playground were so "enthralled" by the young bird that it prompted a response from the state Department of Natural Resources.
The bird, later determined to be male, was transported to Hoo's Woods Raptor Center, a nonprofit organization in Whitewater licensed by the DNR to rehabilitate injured birds of prey.
Dianne Moller, owner of Hoo's Woods, said ordinarily a stranded owl chick is not unusual, as the flightless chicks can venture on the ground before learning to fly.
"The parents will usually take care of it," Moller said.
However, when the chick was brought to Hoo's Woods, Moller said she could tell the chick was not well.
The chick, it transpired, had a condition called frounce, caused by the presence of the parasite trichomonas gallinae. Although the parasite typically affects pigeons, birds of prey can be affected if they eat a bird infected with the parasite.
After infection, the parasite causes inflammation in the host bird's mucus membranes, creating lesions that may ultimately obstruct the bird's airways and digestive tract.
Moller said the bird's condition had improved after treatment, although it would still need to remain at Hoo's Woods for some time while the lesions heal. Because the chick's treatment is interfering with its development of skills such as hunting and flying, it may not be able to be released until late summer, Moller said.
By that point, the owl will be fully grown. Moller said great horned owls reach their full size at 6 weeks old, although they are not fully developed as their feathers are still downy.
Moller said Monroe residents should keep an eye out for other ailing owl chicks.
"If the owl parent fed an infected bird to one chick, they probably fed it to the others," Moller said.
Moller also said Hoo's Woods will accept donations to help treat the owl. Donations are possible through Hoo's Woods' website, www.hooswoods.org.
The chick, then only 2 and a half weeks old, was found struggling on the playground March 28, Northside Principal Amy Timmerman said.
"Our students are very compassionate," Timmerman said, adding that the students in the playground were so "enthralled" by the young bird that it prompted a response from the state Department of Natural Resources.
The bird, later determined to be male, was transported to Hoo's Woods Raptor Center, a nonprofit organization in Whitewater licensed by the DNR to rehabilitate injured birds of prey.
Dianne Moller, owner of Hoo's Woods, said ordinarily a stranded owl chick is not unusual, as the flightless chicks can venture on the ground before learning to fly.
"The parents will usually take care of it," Moller said.
However, when the chick was brought to Hoo's Woods, Moller said she could tell the chick was not well.
The chick, it transpired, had a condition called frounce, caused by the presence of the parasite trichomonas gallinae. Although the parasite typically affects pigeons, birds of prey can be affected if they eat a bird infected with the parasite.
After infection, the parasite causes inflammation in the host bird's mucus membranes, creating lesions that may ultimately obstruct the bird's airways and digestive tract.
Moller said the bird's condition had improved after treatment, although it would still need to remain at Hoo's Woods for some time while the lesions heal. Because the chick's treatment is interfering with its development of skills such as hunting and flying, it may not be able to be released until late summer, Moller said.
By that point, the owl will be fully grown. Moller said great horned owls reach their full size at 6 weeks old, although they are not fully developed as their feathers are still downy.
Moller said Monroe residents should keep an eye out for other ailing owl chicks.
"If the owl parent fed an infected bird to one chick, they probably fed it to the others," Moller said.
Moller also said Hoo's Woods will accept donations to help treat the owl. Donations are possible through Hoo's Woods' website, www.hooswoods.org.