Continued from Part 1
From Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
05 April
Happy Easter and we have a truly remarkable story to share today.
Sometimes, circumstances unfold for a reason, and what initially seems heartbreaking can lead to something positive. Our first baby of 2026 arrived weak and underweight after being discovered at the bottom of a cold cement stairway in downtown Columbia. This Great Horned Owl was alone in an area lacking trees or safe spots for a young owl too small to be out of the nest, without a parent to protect or feed it.
Just two days before, we had received an adult female Great Horned Owl rescued from an electrical fence. She showed clear signs of nesting behavior but was unable to fly or even stand. We always strive to do what is right for our patients, ensuring their surroundings and rehabilitation environments closely resemble their natural habitats.
Hatchling and nestling owls tend to imprint easily, so placing them with a foster adult or others of their age and size is crucial. Knowing the female Great Horned Owl was still in nesting mode and the baby owl had lost its mother, our team decided to take a chance and pair the two. This was a risk we were willing to take to allow her to continue her mothering role, ensuring the baby owl would not imprint on humans and could learn from its own species. It turned out to be a win-win for both.
The relationship has developed beautifully, and we couldn't have asked for a better outcome for either owl. The adult female has taken on the role of caregiver, demonstrating strong protective instincts. We plan to release both the adult female and the baby owl together in the general area where she was rescued. Having the baby owl released with her will provide the necessary support from an adult that raised it, in case of any need for assistance.
One of the greatest rewards our team experiences is ensuring that our patients receive top-quality care and natural comfort during their rehabilitation.
I've given them money, though the bulk of my giving selfishly goes to the center I work at. 😁
I visited them last year at their spring open house, met their Snowy Owl, and got to hold their Australian boobook! It is going on again this weekend, so I'll be paying them another visit.
They're only 60-90 minutes away from me and the clinic I'm at, and while I don't know if we ever do any collaboration with them like we do with Pocono Wildlife Center, we're all doing the same job in our quarter of the state.
Other than that, they just run a really great social media campaign. Rehabbers work 24/7/365 so most places don't have a huge online presence since that isn't actual animal rehabbing. The place I'm with (Aark Wildlife) just got a social media person this year, and I hear the higher ups saying it's doing a great job getting more engagement and donations, so it's been a great help having her on board.
Animal rehab receives no public money anywhere in the world that I'm aware of, so we're all funded 100% by people caring for their wildlife. That's why I always tell folks here to 1) have patience with rehabbers (people get mad we can't drop things to answer calls or return emails like a normal business) and 2) to donate to your local rehab first, since those are your animals and they need your help! If you've got any extra funds, then toss some money or wishlist items to someplace else that seems worthy.
Sorry for getting carried away with a long reply, I just get fairly impassioned about this topic. So short answer, yes, I think Raven Ridge is cool and are good people to donate to, but don't forget about your local rehab either! It's baby season and every rehab needs whatever help it can get.
Great picture, and don't be sorry one bit, this is exactly the kind of info I was looking for and I greatly appreciate it!
I'd wager nobody can fault you for donating to your own outfit, and at the end of the day it's a win if animals in need are getting help! These really are services that should receive more (read: any) public funding, but... that's a whole other conversation I suppose.
Sorry to keep asking questions - do you have any advice for vetting local centers for prospective donors? Are there any good ways to make sure the centers are being run in a responsible way, and that the wildlife in their care are being treated well and handled ethically?