The birthday girl's story: In April 2008, a helpless baby great horned owl was discovered lying on the ground in southern California. As the owl grew, her caretakers at the Ojai Raptor Center noticed that her beak was not developing symmetrically, perhaps from an injury at birth or from falling from the nest. Sadly, it was determined the defect was permanent and that the owl could never be released back to the wild. Without regular filing to keep the beak straight, her upper beak (maxilla) would eventually curve under and prevent her from eating. She would starve to death in the wild.
But this is a story that has a happy ending! After being certified by the veterinarian as non-releasable but in otherwise good health, and with permission from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the owl was transferred to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center of Morgan Hill as an educational animal. She was given the beautiful name, Luna, which means "moon" in Spanish.
Luna had a brief health scare in December, when she developed an ulcer in her left eye, and despite daily medical treatment, it was not healing well. Dr. Patrick McCallum, Luna's eye doctor, was concerned about possible infection, and performed surgery to remove the abnormal corneal tissue. The procedure, called a keratectomy, allowed the epithelial layer of the eye to grow over it and fill it in. After two months of daily medication, close observation and regular check-ups, her veterinarian elatedly pronounced her eye had healed beautifully.
Besides appearing at public events such as last year's Taste of Morgan Hill, Luna is an active participant in WERC's in-class school programs, introducing students to native owls and other birds-of-prey and engaging the children in an in-depth study of the animals' natural habitats and behavior. When she matures a bit more, she will have another important role: Acting as a "foster mother" to baby great horned owls brought in to WERC for rehabilitation to help prevent them from becoming imprinted on their human caretakers and enabling their return to their native habitat.
WERC thanks Dr. Patrick McCallum (Animal Eye Specialists, Campbell), Dr. Laura Bellinghausen (Western Career College, San Jose) and Dr. Suzanne Colbert (Princevalle Pet Hospital, Gilroy) for their dedication and care of Luna.
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A rootin', hootin' celebration
You're invited to help Luna, WERC's Great Horned Owl celebrate her first birthday!
When: Saturday, April 4, 1 to 3 p.m. in Morgan Hill
What: It's a free, fantastical and fun fete for the family and our furred and feathered friends. Meet Luna and her animal friends.* Also enjoy games, prizes and special party favors; cake and punch. Gifts gratefully appreciated. (Suggestions: merchandise gift cards and donations to help with Luna's care.) Space is limited, reservations are required:
Details: Visit www.werc-ca.org for more info or email werc@werc-ca.org.
* Luna and her entourage are WERC's educational ambassadors, animals which are non-releasable due to injuries or otherwise unable to survive in the wild.
Colleen Grzan WERC, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, provides the community with rehabilitation services for orphaned, injured and sick native wildlife. It is supported solely by donations from businesses and the public. To contact WERC, call (408) 779-9372 or visit www.werc-ca.org.
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