Against the odds, a pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl, Asio flammeus) that was found emaciated and badly injured on Lanai in late 2014 has been brought back to health at the Hawaii Wildlife Center and released back on Lanai last month.
Against the odds, a pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl, Asio flammeus) that was found emaciated and badly injured on Lanai in late 2014 has been brought back to health at the Hawaii Wildlife Center and released back on Lanai last month.
The injured pueo was found with traumatic head and eye injuries. The bird was delivered to Division of Forestry and Wildlife staff for Maui Nui, which in turn transferred the bird to the nonprofit Hawaii Wildlife Center, Hawaii’s only native bird and bat hospital, on Hawaii Island.
The nine-month process to recover from its head and eye injuries and rebuild its physical condition consisted of slow, small increments of improvements that ultimately resulted in a miraculous recovery that surprised many involved with the rescue and recovery of this bird.
The pueo is Hawaii’s only native owl.
People who find a sick or injured native bird or bat are encouraged to contact the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the Hawaii Wildlife Center for assistance at 884-5000 or at birdhelp@hawaiiwildlifecenter.org.