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UA prof helps injured owls rehab

Amid helicopters and airplanes, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home to several burrowing owls, which thrive in grassy desert lands like Tucson.

With the help of a UA wildlife ecology professor and local wildlife experts, another young, injured owl has moved to the base to finish its rehabilitation.

William Mannan, professor of wildlife ecology at the UA, worked in conjunction with an urban and wildlife biologist from the Arizona State Game and Fish Department to build an artificial burrow - or condominium - for the owl.

The owl was transported to the new home yesterday after spending several months with animal rehabilitators recovering from a broken left wing.

"Basically, it's a plastic cup turned upside down that serves as a cavity for them to occupy," Mannan said. "It mimics the kind of burrow system they would live in."

Netting will also cover the burrow's opening for several days so the owl can acclimate to the space and be more likely to adopt it as his new dwelling.

Although Mannan has knowledge of the species from survey work he has done on the burrowing owls at the air force base, this is the first time he has aided their return to the wild.

But the Game and Fish Department has proven the artificial burrow method to be beneficial, Mannan said.

"They've been used before and proved to be pretty successful," he said.

Before the owl returned to its natural environment, it had been living under the care of Darlene Braasted, director of Forever Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center, a Tucson-based organization that nurses injured owls, hawks, and other small animals back to health.

Braasted had been caring for the owl for eight months after somebody found the injured bird on the base and brought him to Valley Animal Hospital, who contacted Forever Wild.

Braasted said Forever Wild does not normally treat animals for such an extended length of time, but complications with completing the condominium kept the bird in her care for longer than usual.

"We had been waiting for Davis-Monthan and Arizona Game and Fish to do the enclosure," she said.

Braasted said the break in the owl's wing was too small to be pinned together, so she wrapped the wing to immobilize it. Though the wing is still not flawless, it is functional.

"His wing is stiff and not perfect, but it will be enough for a burrowing owl," she said.

Unlike hawks, falcons and other high-flying birds, burrowing owls rarely fly and mainly get around by running. This feature keeps the owls safe at Davis-Monthan, since they cannot fly into plane engines, Braasted said.

"They're a valuable little owl," Braasted said. "They keep the rodent population in check."

By returning to its natural habitat, the owl and others in its colony will also hunt grasshoppers and mice, reducing the numbers of rodents on post.

"He should be fine," said Braasted. "I fully expect him to live a good long life."