From The UM Raptor Center

Have you ever seen an owl get a bath? This barred owl got into a sticky situation when their wing feathers became glued to their head feathers!

When giving a bird a bath, it’s crucial to maintain their normal body temperature as they could lose heat rapidly when thoroughly wet. We made sure the water temperature was just right and kept the bath short.

Since the bird was anesthetized (anesthesia was administered through a tube in the owl’s airway), we monitored the owl’s breathing and heart rate with a stethoscope throughout. The bathing process involved three steps: the first was to use a small amount of Goo Gone" to break down the glue residue that covered the owl’s feathers.

Next was a proper lathering using a safe Dawn"-like soap solution, massaging out the goo, and rinsing thoroughly. Lastly, it was time for a blow dry.

During the blow-drying phase, our priority once again was to maintain the owľ’s body temperature to ensure it did not drop or elevate too high with all that warm air.

Our sticky feathered friend is now on the road to recovery!

I wonder how this little one got stuck. Glue trap perhaps?

It’s crazy how it can be dangerous to get a bath.

Video at the link above, or GIF below. This vid was longer so I was limited to 5 fps 😕