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Owl Saved After Being Shot With BB Gun and Stuck in Manure Pit Makes Incredible Recovery

Even though wild animals aren't as close to us as our pets, we still have a responsibility to help them when they're in trouble. Lately, a sad owl got into a bad situation, and if no one had stepped in, it's possible that the poor animal wouldn't have survived.
In the previous month, the Raven Ridge Animal Center in Pennsylvania shared an update on their Facebook page. They had recently taken in a Great Horned Owl that had been rescued from a manure pit.
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Tracie Young, a dedicated wildlife rehabilitator, recounted the challenging circumstances surrounding the owl's arrival. The owl's condition was truly distressing after being stuck in the pit for at least two days. Dehydrated, weak, and covered in layers of caked-on manure, the unfortunate bird required multiple baths to be cleaned up.
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Source: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center

While she anticipated that the owl might have an unpleasant odor, Young was taken aback by the overwhelming and unpleasant smell that came from the frightened bird. She started calling him "Stinky," in a playful way.

Young acknowledged that providing care would be a lengthy process; however, it was still heartbreaking to see the owl look helpless and worn out after the traumatic experience.

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Source: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
The owl had endured severe eye trauma, as his right eye exhibited a deep red color and was filled with blood. An unexpected discovery even showed that the bird had been illegally shot with a steel BB from a gun. As a result, the rescuers had to wait for the blood in the eye to be naturally absorbed before assessing any permanent damage. The owl needed fluids, tube feeding, and numerous baths to facilitate his recovery.
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Source: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center

Understanding the difficult process of recovering, the rescuers recognized the owl's extraordinary resilience. When the eye was examined more closely, it was unexpectedly shocking to discover that the owl had not sustained any long-term eye damage or vision loss.

Tracie Young expressed her disbelief at the owl's remarkable turnaround, admitting that she initially had doubts about its ability to survive. Because of this amazing change, the owl's name switched from "Stinky" to "Lucky."

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Source: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
Lucky underwent an amazing transformation in just a few weeks, and his eye completely reclaimed its previous appearance. He will soon be released back into the wild during the upcoming fall season, according to the wildlife center.
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Source: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
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Source: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
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Witnessing the encouraging progress in this beautiful owl's recovery journey is truly heartening. Our gratitude extends to all those who participated in his rescue and care. If you have a fondness for animals, please consider sharing this inspiring story with others! ❤️
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