Third member of Great Horned Owl family found dead in Lincoln Park

The third and final member of a family of great horned owls that live in North Pond in Lincoln Park was found dead Thursday morning. Experts said the bird probably died of rodent poisoning.

The adult female owl was found covered in blood, said Annette Prince of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, a condition suggestive of rat poisoning. It will be transported to Willowbrook Wildlife Center to determine the cause of death.

“This was a tragic outcome,” Prince said. “The family was doing well there in North Pond. We need to petition our cities and towns and encourage our neighbors not to use these high levels of poison.”

The owl’s adult male mate and her baby owl were found dead in the pond area in recent weeks. Experts suspect rodent poisoning played a role in the deaths of both owls.

Sarah Reich, senior veterinarian at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, said the baby owl suffered massive internal bleeding and almost certainly died of rodent poisoning. His father suffered two broken ribs but also had internal bleeding and is being evaluated for rodent poisoning, she said.

Reich said birds with broken ribs can often survive, suggesting an underlying cause.

Although rodent poisoning is not the ultimate cause of death for a bird, it can often be a contributing factor, according to Holly Fales Garvey, a volunteer environmental educator with the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

She said she sees many birds die of hypothermia after rat poisoning causes them to become lethargic and slow, while other birds become so weak that they fall from trees or are hit by cars.

“The animals are bleeding to death from the inside,” said Fales Garvey. “They don’t know what’s wrong with them, they’re trying to get water as if that will help them. And then we see with our large birds that they actually succumb to hypothermia after they land in the water.”

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Nearly 4 million great horned owls are found in diverse habitats across North America, including Illinois. Great Horned Owls are the second heaviest owl species in America after the snowy owl and are known for their hunting skills, large yellow eyes, deep calls and the tufts of feathers on their heads. They nest as early as January because their owls need more time than other young birds to learn to hunt on their own before the next winter.

Candace Ridlbauer, director of Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education, said she sees many birds die from rodent poisoning. She said it’s important for Chicago residents suffering from a rodent problem to find a solution that doesn’t involve poisons.

“It gets into the food chain,” Ridlbauer said. “It’s not just birds. Foxes, coyotes and all types of birds of prey eat mice. Your cat may be eating mice. Find a place that humanely eliminates pests so you don’t emit these types of toxins.”