Owl Recovering After Being Shot In Lake Linden

A Great Horned Owl is recovering after apparently being shot in Lake Linden.

The raptor is being cared for by U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation—Keweenaw Group, who says the wound was discovered after swelling in the animal had gone down.  Radiographs confirmed that the owl has a pellet shot still in its wing.

This follows an American Robin who died while in rehab after it too was shot in the Lake Linden area.  The group is also currently caring for a pigeon that may have been a victim of a gunshot as well.

They have notified the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service since the owl is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  Harming one is a federal offence.  Read more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Act here:
https://www.fws.gov/…/laws-le…/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php

Anyone with any information about the shooting is encouraged to come forward.  You can report information to USFW here or locally to DNR/law enforcement:
https://www.fws.gov/…/lawenforce…/report-wildlife-crimes.php

As for the owl, its condition is improving but it is still too early to tell if it will ever be healthy enough to be released back into the wild.

It will be transferred to the Chocolay Raptor Center for further rehabilitation.  Donations to help with the owl’s recovery can be made through the U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation–Keweenaw Group Facebook page.