Screech Owl released back in the wild. Thanks TWC. Dec 2014

It was a cold and windy night with a bit of snow falling down.  Toronto Wildlife Centre dropped off a eastern screech owl to be returned to him area.  Stacey and Jeannie handed me a big box that we put in the car with seat belt on it.  The box was bouncing around and I drove quickly to get the owl to the release site.
The time was 5:30pm

I had on my head lamp and the car lights to help me safely move  around. I opened the box and out flew the largest screech owl I have ever seen.  His wings were huge.  I did not even have the box opened when the owl was trying to get out.
I was so surprised to see him land in the closest tree.  He looked up and down and all around.  You could tell he knew she was home.  I had a couple of seconds to take a few photos with my cell phone and point and shoot.
 Then in a blink she was gone.

 

Thank you Toronto Wildlife Centre for your care of all animals.
With out your help this owl would not have survived.

Thank you volunteer rescue staff  Max for picking up the injured bird.
Stacey and Jeannie who dropped him off for me to release.

A moment in time I will never forget.  

Red Fox released after 2 months care by TWC.

Thanks to Toronto Wildlife Centre this fox is once again free. 

October this young red fox was captured with mange.  Mange is treatable.  Thank you Toronto Wildlife Centre.

December 8, 2014 here is the same fox.  Beautiful fur, healthy and ready to be set free.  He was released in the same location as found.  

Smelling the ground

Leaving his scent in the bushes.

Looking over the bluffs 

Gone
Good luck Red.

Great Horned Owl - released on behalf of The Owl Foundation

It was a cold clear day and just before dusk a male Great Horned Owl is being released back where he was found.
Back in May the owl was found with head injuries.  Dr. Jason Steinman vet took the owl to the office and gave him life saving trama care.  The owl was then transferred to The Owl Foundation who then proceeded to get owl stable and then the long recovery process  Last Friday he was ready to go.  I met Peter who is a volunteer also..  Then off I went north of Toronto.     3 hours to go so back roading I went.  Great drive and lots of horses. 

I met Dr. Jason and his son,  Michelle Vet Assistant and friends Charm and her kids. Michelle had the honour to release the owl.  He was was so ready to go.  The box was opened and the owl started to get ready to leave. 

Powerful owl

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Powerful legs

Into the back trees he flew

He quickly pooped and then away he went again. 

Great horned owl feather.

Thank you so much Dr. Jason Steinman  and also the Owl Foundation for making it possible for the owl to go back to his home. With mating season about to start lets hope the female is still waiting for him.

Series of shots by Charm Anderson of the owl release.

Look at those talons and legs.  

Last photo by upcoming photographer Virginia Anderson.  Great shot Virginia.  

Coyote release by Toronto Wildlife Centre Nov 2014

I call them the A team of wildlife rescue and release.  Andrew Sarrah and Stacey from the Toronto wildlife centre.

Coyote successful caught in wildlife cage after 2 months of treatment for mange.  A V hook is used to control the coyote and for safety of everyone.  Look how healthy this coyote is, bright yellow eyes, hair all grown in.  AMAZING

Ministry of Natural Resources puts back on the tracking devise and makes sure there is room underneath. 

Last check to make sure all is working.

Stacey and Andrew take the coyote to the van for release



and he is off - photo by Chris McConnell

Two photos of release by volunteer staff Chris McConnell.. 

Coyote Rescue and Release team.  What an honour to be part of the team

Mange can be treated.  This is the same coyote 2 month at capture. Make the call for sick animals. 
Thank you Toronto Wildlife Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and all the volunteers
Photo credit to TWC

Red Fox 1st year fox now at Toronto Wildlife for mange Oct 2014

Luckily for this young fox he has a friend called Irene.  She saw this fox sleeping on her back porch and called TWC for help. We set up the trap where the fox was going and put the blanket he slept on inside.  Four days later we had the young fox.  He I well on his way to recovery.  He is one of the lucky ones who will have a second chance.  Thanks Irene and Toronto Wildlife.

You can see the mange in his face, eyes closed and ratty ears.  In a couple of month he will be beautiful again.

Northern Goshawk released by Toronto Wildlife Centre Nov 8, 2014

Andrew head of rescue at Toronto Wildlife Centre returns goshawk to where he was found.  A few weeks back the Northern Goshawk had been found stunned in a backyard (possible a window strike).Thanks to TWC he is now ready to be released.  Andrew released the bird, with Stacey, Harry, Chris M and myself were so lucky to watch.

Jumps out of the box

And the goshawk is off

what a beauty.  Look at those markings

gone

Hatch year male Northern Goshawk! The wavy tail striping and lack of an obvious white tip to the tail rules out Cooper's. The long tail rules out most of the buteos, and the thick, greyish (vs. thin brownish) tails bands and lack of a pale crescent in the "hand" of the wing rules out Red-shouldered. PHOTOS and explanation by Amanda Guercio .     Amanda banding the above bird for the TWC so they can hopefully find out how this hawk does in the futue.

The last three shots were taken at the Rosetta Raptor Watch on Thursday.  This is not the same bird but it is also a hatch year northern goshawk.

Incredible hawk.