PULLMAN Avista Corporation’s utilities division rescued a great horned owl entangled in an active power line on the Washington State University campus on Nov. 3.
The female owl, nicknamed, “Singe,” for a minor burn suffered in the mishap, is recovering well in the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Airport Road and Terre View Drive. Discovered at daylight by WSU veterinary college employees, the bird was hanging upside down and was too exhausted to struggle. The owl most likely landed on a ceramic insulator and its talon slipped between the live wire and the tie wire holding the power line to the insulator. The wires acted like a noose preventing escape.
John Bindl, an Avista employee, was permitted to respond to the scene in his bucket truck. Bindl and Avista have assisted the WSU veterinary college before. In February, he responded to help replace a young owl back in its nest after it was blown out during a windstorm.
Bindl made a quick assessment of the owl’s dilemma and determined it was not necessary to interrupt electrical service. He used an insulated tool to dislodge the bird’s talon. Singe set her wings and drifted to the ground where she was immediately captured.
“This is the second time Avista and Mr. Bindl have been kind enough to help us with a wild bird and it speaks volumes for their commitment to the community,” said Dr. Nickol Finch, head of WSU’s exotic animal service.
“Without their help, there’d be two less wild owls enriching the Pullman area.”
Singe suffered only the minor burn under one wing. She is also blind in one eye from an old injury. At present, she is expected to make a complete recovery and be returned to the wild.
