We recently took in an injured Barn Owl, which was found struggling to stand. Upon investigation it was rushed to our vets who took X-Rays and confirmed that both femurs (upper leg bone) had been shattered. This is almost certainly the result of being caught in a Fenn or Pole trap, which have been illegal since 1904.
X ray showing the shattered upper legs of a Barn Owl.
Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do to save this owl so it was euthanised to end it’s suffering. However, the story doesn’t end there. Over the years we have worked closely with the local wildlife crime officers on similar cases, so the owl was sent to them for an official post mortem. We shared with them the location the owl was found, and they did a sweep of the local farm and estate. Although nothing was found, they are hopeful that news will spread amongst the community that it was investigated and that the perpetrator will be dissuaded from putting traps out again.
Though it is upsetting to deal with illegally trapped animals, this case is doubly so as this barn owl was unlikely to have been the intended catch. Pole traps are more commonly used to catch Sparrowhawks and Buzzards, which do occasionally hunt poultry and game birds. The nature of these traps leads to the indiscriminate maiming and killing of countless wild birds around the UK every year, despite the laws against them, but they can also be a threat to mammals.
Illegally persecuted wildlife is often found dumped on roadsides, as the culprits try to “hide” the evidence on our increasingly busy roads (see previous blog). Raptors, badgers and foxes are the most commonly found, and injuries sustained through hunting, trapping or baiting can be disguised by a few knocks from vehicles. There are a few dedicated groups around the UK who collect roadkill and investigate whether it is dead from a genuine accident or not.
If you see anything suspicious in the countryside, please call 101 and report it to the police.
For more information about Operation Owl, please visit:
https://www.operationowl.com/