From Ojai Raptor Center

Meet Great Horned Owl Patient 25-106

This beautiful, young juvenile male Great Horned Owl was found barely responsive, lying beneath a power line on the side of the road. Upon arrival at our wildlife hospital, our team quickly recognized the signs of electrocution-an all-too-common danger for raptors like this one. Many birds of prey are drawn to utility poles and power lines. These high perches give them a perfect view for hunting, but they can also be deadly. When a bird spreads its wings or touches two energized components at once, the result can be devastating.

Electrocution is one of the hidden threats raptors face-but we’re grateful for the partnerships working to change that. Southern California Edison (SCE) has been taking active steps to protect birds for decades. Since 1988, their Avian Protection Program has worked to mitigate the impact of its work on bird populations and other wildlife.

This is especially important during nesting season (March 1-October 31), when large nests built on electrical equipment can both endanger birds and cause outages. SCE’s specially trained crews relocate active nests onto custom-built platforms on the same pole or nearby, allowing birds to continue raising their young safely. A biologist remains on-site to ensure the parents return. If relocation isn’t possible or the nest is abandoned, SCE partners with wildlife rehabilitators like us to care for and eventually release the young birds back into the wild.

If you ever find a bird injured near a utility pole-or if you believe a pole may pose a danger to wildlife-call SCE to report it. Provide the pole number (usually printed on the side), and they’ll send someone out to investigate and, if needed, make modifications to help prevent future harm.

Patient 25-106 still has a long road ahead, and his prognosis is guarded, but he’s in the best hands possible. Your support has given him a second chance! Thank you to everyone who helps to make this work possible!

It’s good to know there’s a system in place to get these things fixed! I’m sure most local pet companies have something similar in place.