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Great-horned owl after surgery in Conn. © The HSUS |
The Connecticut Great Horned owl who was rescued from a leghold trap last month had to be euthanized Saturday due to complications from her injuries.
The owl captured the hearts of citizens when she had to undergo an emergency foot amputation in an attempt to save her life. She had been in intensive care ever since that time, until her death this weekend.
Not in Vain
This owl's plight, however, has motivated state lawmakers to introduce a bill (S.B. 994) to ban the use of cruel leghold and body-crushing traps. Next Monday, the Connecticut General Assembly's Environment Committee will hold a public hearing on this bill and is expected to vote on it soon after.
Time for Action
"The real tragedy here is that leghold and body-crushing traps are still legal and used throughout Connecticut," said Laura Simon, field director for the urban wildlife program for The Humane Society of the United States. "After hearing about what happened to the owl, so many people expressed astonishment that these traps aren't banned already. Connecticut residents must contact their state legislators and voice their support to ban leghold traps."
This owl was a visible victim, but there are countless more who go unnoticed, in addition to pets and children who are at risk from these harmful devices.
In Connecticut, more than 6,500 wild animals are legally trapped each year using body-crushing and leghold traps, according to DEP statistics. This figure does not include the "non-target" animals, like owls, hawks, dogs and cats that unknowingly get caught in these traps and suffer horrendously.
Eight states have already banned or severely restricted the use of these traps including: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington.
What You Can Do
"This owl's death will not have been in vain if enough people contact their state legislators and voice their support for this leghold trap ban—Senate Bill 994," states Simon. Click here to take action.
Trapped Owl Safe, for Now
Feb. 17, 2008
A Great Horned Owl who dragged herself across a road in Durham, Conn.—one leg clamped in a steel leghold trap—has had a reprieve, of sorts.
On January 20th, the HSUS’s Wildlife Hotline in Connecticut received a call from Kathy Grasso, hospital manager and wildlife rehabilitator for the Yalesville Veterinary Hospital, about a Great Horned Owl injured by a trap.
Responding to Kathy’s call for assistance, Dean Rizzo, assistant animal control officer for the town of Wallingford, Conn., retrieved the animal and brought her in to the hospital.
With a steel-jawed leghold trap tightly clamped to the bird’s right leg, the foot was held together only by small shreds of skin. The owl immediately underwent surgery, and Dr. Frank Kostolitz amputated her foot at the tarpal joint.
The next 24 hours were decisive, given the bird’s critical state. Having dragged the trap for perhaps more than 24 hours, the animal was not only in shock but also emaciated and dehydrated.
Thanks to Ms. Grasso’s round-the-clock care, the owl survived and regained strength, eating ravenously for days.
The HSUS offered a $2500 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of whoever illegally set the trap that caught and harmed the owl. Despite local media coverage, no good leads have been reported to date.
The state Dept. of Environmental Protection is investigating the case due to violations of state law, as the trap was unpadded and set above-ground, probably baited, and with no trapper identification. Federal laws prohibiting the harming of a federally protected species have been violated as well.
The Days Ahead
Even if the owl recovers, her future is uncertain. With only one foot, she would not be likely to survive if released back into the wild.
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| Leghold traps are loaded with suffering for wild, and sometimes also domestic, animals. © The HSUS |
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The owl’s future may also be in peril due to relatively new Fish and Wildlife Service regulations. The rules require that a bird be euthanized if she has sustained injuries requiring amputation of a leg, a foot, or a wing at the elbow (humero-ulnar joint) or above, and/or is completely blind.
The HSUS is seeking a waiver of this euthanasia mandate to allow the bird time to complete her recovery, and to allow input from experts on the best course of action.
The Trouble with Traps
HSUS Field Director of the Urban Wildlife Program, Laura Simon, indicated that a leghold trap of this type is typically used to trap coyotes. However, the traps do not discriminate; household pets are among the animals who unwittingly feel their excruciating grip, as well as birds and other unintended victims.
Many animals caught in traps experience not only prolonged suffering but also may die of secondary causes such as starvation, dehydration, or being preyed upon by other animals.
What You Can Do
As a result of this incident, a bill has been introduced in the Connecticut legislature to prohibit the use of body-crushing and leghold traps. It is now being considered by the legislature's Environment Committee.
If you live in Connecticut, we need your help to make this bill a law. Please contact both your State Senator and State Representative and ask them to support a bill prohibiting body-crushing and leg-hold traps. Click here to find your state legislators.
