This past April, Long Island, New York, animal rescuer Karenlynn Stracher received a call from a local veterinarian's office about a large bird struggling in their parking lot. Stracher didn’t hesitate and jumped in her car.
On her way, Stracher got another call. Apparently, Good Samaritans had tried to catch the injured animal — an osprey — and ended up spooking him, sending him flying across the street. By the time Stracher arrived, the distressed bird was nowhere to be found.
Stracher wasn’t giving up. She drove all through the area, looking for any sign of the osprey. When she saw a police officer at a traffic stop, she told him about the bird and asked if he could keep his eyes peeled. The decision paid off. Hours later, Stracher got a call
from the officer — he’d found the bird in someone’s backyard, perched on top of a pile of wood scraps.
The animal rescuer knew time was of the essence.
“Up until this point, I’d only seen pictures of the bird, and he looked to be in very poor condition,” Stracher told The Dodo. “I was concerned about him making it through the night.”
When Stracher finally arrived, she locked eyes with the bird and determined the best course of action. She knew the rescue wouldn’t be easy. The animal lover had raced over without her usual rescue equipment, and the rickety woodpile made it difficult to use a net. She’d have to act fast.
“I had one chance to make that catch,” Stracher said.
Stracher approached the bird from behind and carefully lowered the net over his body. The osprey was tired and agitated, snapping at Stracher when she tried to secure him. Without her usual rescue gloves, Stracher had to improvise. She took off her sweatshirt and wrapped it around the bird, maintaining everyone’s safety as she transported him to a carrier.
The rescuer took the osprey to Animal Nation, where veterinarians treated him for avian influenza.
Thanks to Stracher’s help, this bird will get a second chance at life in the wild.
“He will hopefully make a full recovery,” she said.
