Injured Owl Recovering at Tufts

An injured barred owl was saved from the breakdown lane of the Massachusetts Turnpike and has landed at the Tufts wildlife clinic.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Golenski and two environmental police officers rescued an injured and struggling barred owl from the highway’s breakdown lane in Auburn on Saturday, the Boston Herald reports.

The bird, believed to be a male based on its weight, has undergone successful surgery at the wildlife clinic at according to Thomas Keppeler, associate director for communications at the school.

 “We are optimistic about his chances, but he’s got a long road ahead,’’ Keppeler said in an email statement.

The owl's broken wing now has surgical pins in it. As its wing heals, the owl will eventually have the pins removed.

The owl is now confined to a small cage, Keppeler said. The owl will eventually have the pins removed, then be allowed to go to progressively larger and larger cages so that he can relearn how to fly and hunt.

The age of the owl is unknown.