WHO will help?

WHO will help? A story of human kindness

by Tracy McCoy

It’s not every day that you get the chance to save an animal’s life. Especially an owl. It was evening when Jordan Adams left her job at Tia Dana on Highway 64 in Highlands. Mulling over the day and her plans for the evening, Jordan was just a mile or so out of town when she spotted a peculiar form just a foot or two from the side of the road. As she slowed and passed by, she recognized it as an owl. She quickly found a place to turn around and pulled over, getting out of her car. Within a couple minutes, two other cars had also stopped, and Jordan was standing with a couple from Atlanta and a local gentleman. Together, they tried to figure out what to do. The owl didn’t move but it was apparent that the animal was alive and injured. Police were contacted to try to get an idea what to do with the owl and Jordan was given the number of a wildlife rescue. Jordan called Wild for Life in Asheville, North Carolina but, it being a weekend, no one answered so she left a message. The owl did not respond at all when it was picked up. Jordan had a box in her car that was a perfect fit for it. The injured animal, wrapped in a towel from the Atlanta couple’s car, was put in the box by the local gentleman before he went on his way. The Atlanta couple stayed with Jordan to be sure she was safe driving 106 to Clayton. Jordan called her mother Kim, who is engaged to Dr. John Woodward, a local veterinarian. She explained that she found an owl and that it was hurt badly and asked if she brought it home, could John take a look at it. John agreed to take a look. When Jordan picked up the box, she was struck by the owl’s lightness - all feathers and very soft and fluffy. Dr. Woodward looked the animal over and they decided a wildlife rehabilitation would be the best bet. Unsure if the animal would make it through the night, it was made as comfortable as possible in its box and Kim checked on it the next morning. The animal was still in rough shape when Wild for Life returned their call the next day. A volunteer offered to

meet in Waynesville to pick up the owl. Jordan remembers thinking that she would never see the animal again. Kim drove to Waynesville and met the Wild for Life volunteer. In the days and weeks to come, Kim communicated with Wild for Life to check on the owl’s progress. Wild for Life gave her updates saying the owl appeared to be recovering and getting stronger. Jordan was pleased to know that the owl was improving. In early March the call came that the animal was ready to be released back into the wild and Wild for Life asked if Jordan and her mom would like to be the ones who released it. Of course, having that opportunity was exciting for them and they agreed to do it. Stonewall Creek Vineyards seemed like a beautiful setting for the release, so the afternoon was planned. The owl was picked up from Wild for Life in Asheville and brought back to Georgia. Jordan carefully carried the box out into a field

Note: There’s a black box in the upper left-hand corner of this photo. That’s a barred owl box that the Stonewall Creek folks had built last year, in hopes that an owl would take to it. We’re not sure if this guy has or will, but it’s cool that it’s there nonetheless.

and gently sat the box down and opened it on its side. The owl didn’t leave the confines of the box until Jordan tipped it slightly, and that’s when the owl suddenly shot out of the box, wings spread, and flew across the vineyard before landing on the roof of a far-off house. The moment was incredible and a celebration of creation and human kindness. The owl who couldn’t fly just months prior was now able to soar. Wild for Life is a non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation for injured and orphaned wildlife with the mission to return them to their natural habitat. They operate by donations from their community and communities like ours. They receive no state or local funding. More information about their efforts can be found at www.wildforlife.org. A video of the owl release can be found on our website www.gmlaurel.com.