We are heartbroken to share that Otus the eastern screech owl passed away this month. At 13 years old, Otus was one of Piedmont Wildlife Center's oldest raptor Ambassadors. Otus's expressiveness and big personality proved that amazing things do indeed come in small packages.
Otus was found in 2009 as a juvenile in Wilkes County, unable to fly after colliding with a window. Upon examination at Carolina Raptor Center, he was found to have a fractured left humerus that did not heal properly. His injury left him unable to fly, which meant he couldn't be released into the wild. Instead, he came to PWC in 2010, where he soon became one of our most beloved Ambassador Animals.
Otus went on countless school programs and outreach events during his time at PWC, including visits to the NC State Fair. Most people who have any connection with PWC met Otus at some point. He was absolutely a staff and volunteer favorite, and was the closest thing PWC has ever had to an "unofficial mascot"!
In the wild, eastern screech owls live to be about 8 or 10 years old, and many only live to be 2-5 years of age. In human care, that lifespan can be expanded to about 11 to 13 years. Otus lived exceptionally longer than he would have in the wild with his injuries - a testament to our Conservation Team and raptor volunteers' dedication to giving him (and all our Ambassador Animals) a healthy, enriched life.
Thank you to everyone who provided care for, sponsored, taught programs with, or just stopped to say hi to Otus over the last 13 years. We want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Emma Bogerd at Willow Creek Animal Hospital for providing care to Otus in his last moments. Dr. Bogerd had worked with Otus as one of our conservation interns in summer 2016. It brought our team great comfort to know that our little buddy had a friend with him at the end.
Whether you were here when he arrived in 2010, or just met him at a program this year, we would love to hear your favorite Otus memories in the comments below. If you feel moved to make a one-time or recurring donation in Otus's memory, you may do so at https://www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org/donate.
Here's to Otus's legacy of wildlife education and conservation. Otie, we hope you're flying high in the sky and catching all the mice on the other side.
