A Great Horned Owl found bound in a bag on a Michigan roadside prompts an animal-cruelty probe
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich.— Wildlife workers are racing to save a great horned owl discovered tied inside an empty seed bag and abandoned along a West Michigan roadway. Conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are investigating possible cruelty to the wild raptor after the incident, reported on December 6 in South Haven Township. The female owl was found with a plastic zip tie wrapped so tightly around one ankle that it restricted blood flow.
A bystander reported that the bag had been tossed into a ditch in a residential yard, and when the homeowner went to retrieve the seed bag, they found the owl inside. The person who found the bird transported it to a wildlife rehabber, who alerted authorities in case more cases like this arise.
West Michigan Wildlife Center in Grand Rapids, the first to care for the injured owl, provided fluids, pain relief, foot soaks, and carefully removed the zip tie using wire cutters commonly employed to free turtles from fishing gear. A veterinarian later determined the owl is blind in one eye, though the root cause could not be identified.
“I’ve seen some odd things, but I’ve never encountered a raptor hog-tied like this. It’s exceptionally unusual,” said Allyson Swanson, founder and director of the center.
The owl has since been moved to Wildside Rehabilitation and Education Center in Eaton Rapids for long-term treatment. Wildside’s founder and director reports the bird is receiving around-the-clock care, but the prognosis remains guarded.
“Its foot is severely swollen, and I’m concerned it may be the start of gangrene. The smell of infection is strong, so she’s on robust antibiotics, with daily foot and ankle soaks and strong pain relief,” explained Louise Sagaert, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for 30 years. Sagaert noted this case is especially distressing and suspects the owl was kept illegally in captivity and abandoned when wounds caused swelling and infection.
Sagaert added that she believes the bird was likely kept as a young owl, with a zip tie placed around the ankle to mark ownership. Over time, the restraint tightened as the bird moved or grew, eventually impairing circulation. She emphasized that there is some blood flow in the swollen foot and that the owl retains limited movement in its toes—an encouraging sign.
The owl has no broken bones and is being fed by hand at the rehab center. If the wound cannot heal, federal wildlife regulations could lead to euthanasia.
Even if healing occurs, Sagaert notes the owl might not be released back into the wild. Instead, she envisions a future where the owl serves as an ambassador, remaining at a nature center to educate the public about Michigan’s wildlife.
First, the animal must survive. At present, the owl isn’t displaying typical predatory behavior and appears emotionally defeated, Sagaert observed.
“You look at this bird and she seems defeated—she lies in your arms and doesn’t struggle to escape or defend herself,” Sagaert said, voice breaking. “What did this owl do to deserve such treatment? I don’t understand.”
Officials reported that the empty 50-pound bag of whole corn kernels showed signs of having air holes cut into it at the discovery site. The bag bore a Producer’s Pride label, a cattle, sheep, and goat feed brand commonly sold at retailers like Walmart and Tractor Supply.
There were no witnesses or surveillance cameras in the area, and DNR investigators have not yet identified any leads. People with information are urged to contact Michigan’s Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800 or file a report online.
Meanwhile, Wildside Rehabilitation and Education Center is seeking donations to help cover the costs of long-term care for this owl and other animals, including turtles, small mammals, and other raptors such as American kestrels, barred owls, screech owls, and turkey vultures. The initial treatment facility, West Michigan Wildlife Center, is also accepting donations to support its ongoing work and to help secure a permanent Grand Rapids facility.
