So, Who Cooks For You?

Imagine a Vermont spring night, the sky a velvety black save for the sparkle of a thousand stars. The wood frogs bark to their loves from the marsh while an opossum casually rambles through the thicket. The lull of the evening is broken by the low, resounding call of someone with a question. “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” The barred owl is awake. Barred owls are often heard and not seen. Their charming call – which sounds a lot like “who-cooks-for-you?” – is a treat to hear.

This barred owl came in to VINS Wildlife Services after colliding with a vehicle. He presented with two fractures in his left wing. He was also weak and lethargic. His wing was wrapped for about three weeks to keep it immobilized. He has since been receiving physical therapy under anesthesia to essentially “un-stiffen” his muscles and tendons. Soon, this owl will be sent into our flight cage where we will be able to see how well he flies with his newly healed wing.