Prayers for Howie: Local volunteer rescues injured owl from busy Bluffton highway
The injured owl laid against the concrete roadside barrier, surrounded by the roar of Saturday morning traffic on Bluffton Parkway.
Joshua Vermilyea, a local avian expert and longtime volunteer bird rescuer, was quick to help. After getting the call from a concerned community member, he and the injured owl — now known affectionately as “Howie” — were on the road to a veterinarian. Howie rode in a covered, blanket-filled pet carrier.
Howie arrived at Awendaw’s Avian Conservation Center, about 2 1/2 hours up the coast, where his rehabilitation treatment began. The owl was severely dehydrated and has a small hairline fracture in his right wing, which prevented him from flying. Staff believe he may have been hit by a car.
As of Tuesday, conservation center staff said Howie was refusing to eat — but Vermilyea hopes his appetite will return as his stress levels decrease.
“That little bird has gone through a lot,” he said. “It might just be the commotion that’s going on.”
Howie is a barred owl, one of the most common species in South Carolina. Found year-round in dense forests near water and swamplands, the birds’ distinct call is thought to sound like human speech: “Who cooks for you?”
Veterinarians in Awendaw aren’t yet sure whether Howie needs surgery. As time passes, experts will monitor his health and flying patterns to determine when he’s ready to return to the wild.
If that happens, Vermilyea said he’ll do the honor of releasing Howie back in Bluffton, where the bird will be in familiar territory.
For Vermilyea, Howie’s story is a prime example of the tension between human life and animal ecosystems in the Lowcountry.
“You’re not going to stop human expansion, it’s never going to end,” Vermilyea said. “But we have to have a balanced ecosystem. There’s no way that any of us are ever going to survive if our ecosystem fails.”
Although the Avian Conservation Center should always be the first point of contact for injured birds, a number of skilled rehabbers are available across the Lowcountry to assist in the handling and transportation of injured animals.
Vermilyea suggests people call someone who is trained to handle wildlife and keep an eye on the injured critter until help arrives.
This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 9:21 AM.
