Guess what I found yesterday.
My slightly oversized garage also serves as my woodshop so you can imagine what a mess it becomes during and immediately after one of my ‘projects’. These days, with my bad back, those projects have become much less frequent so it had been far too long since the last time I’d cleaned my garage. Finally I couldn’t take the clutter any longer so for the last several days I’ve been slowly sprucing it up as best I could.
Yesterday, in an old storage container I hadn’t opened in almost six years, I found a memento that was both sad and encouraging. I was surprised by how far the memories it sparked set me back on my heels.
It’s just an old piece of barbed wire that I’d completely forgotten I’d saved and it brought back memories that I found to be both traumatic and surprisingly uplifting.
Blog followers will remember the Barn Owl that Mia and I found hanging from barbed wire in Montana’s Centennial Valley in September of 2015. I’ve told this part of the story before so today I’ll keep my explanation of that day’s events as short as possible.
We attempted to extract the strikingly beautiful owl from the wire “in situ” but ‘he’ was so effectively snagged by a single barb it was obviously impossible to get him off the wire without causing further damage to his left wing. So I tried another strategy. I happened to have a small pair of wire cutters in my pickup so I cut a 2′ section of the top wire out that included the attached owl and laid the terrified but relatively calm bird on the tailgate of my pickup as we tried to figure out our next step. I cut the 2′ section of the wire attached to the owl down to a more manageable size of about 7″ and that piece of wire was the ‘souvenir’ I found in my garage yesterday.
We were in a remote area with no cell phone service but miraculously Bill West, manager of nearby Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, drove up on the dirt road on his way to Dillon and helped me to safely get the 7″ piece of wire extracted from the owl’s wing. Then Bill drove off with the owl wrapped in his jacket and eventually made arrangements to have him transported to the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC) in Bozeman about 200 miles northeast of us.
My next problem was related to having cut the wire. Cutting fence in cattle country is serious business because of the potential for accidents caused by loose cattle and the inconvenience and expense it causes for ranchers. Bill had promised to send some of his refuge crew to fix the fence but that would take some time so I patched the fence temporarily as best I could using materials and tools I had in my pickup.
If you look carefully my patch can be seen at the top of the vertical piece of wire midway between the two posts. Mia tied yellow flags to the adjacent posts so Bill’s crew could easily find the part of the fence that needed to be repaired.
Here’s a closer look at my patch, made using a piece of rope I had in my pickup. It was a crude but effective temporary fix.
And here’s a closer look at my barbed wire memento. To this day there’s a fragment of owl feathers attached to the barb that snagged him. The lower barb on the coiled piece of wire is shorter than the other one because while the owl was still on the fence I cut the end of it off in a failed attempt to get the owl safely off the wire.
I couldn’t believe how evocative it was for me yesterday when I found this simple piece of wire. I must have stood there for ten minutes or more, leaning over my workbench with the piece of wire in my hand and thinking about what did happen and what could have happened.
Copyright Montana Raptor Conservation Center
Thankfully the story had a happy ending. Exactly three weeks later MRCC volunteers drove the healed owl back to the Centennial Valley and released him near the area where Mia and I found him hung up on the fence. Karen West, Bill’s wife, had the distinct honor of opening the door to the transport container and setting him free.
In the nearly six years since all this occurred I’ve thought about what happened many times of course. But having that physical piece of wire in my hand that included feathers from the owl brought it all back so clearly for me it was almost like watching a movie in my head.
So I had to share with my blog followers. I think many of you will understand.
Ron
Notes:
- Growing up in Montana I’ve had significant experience with barbed wire but this wire was like none I’d ever seen before. It appeared to be anodized so it was darker than most barbed wire (in the third photo above it almost looks rusty but it isn’t.) It was very heavy gauge and so stiff it could barely be bent, especially in shorter pieces. My small pair of wire cutters were inadequate for cutting it, to the point that I had to squeeze them so hard I pulled tendons in my right arm that took weeks to heal. I’ve carried heavy duty wire cutters in my pickup ever since.
- This owl was lucky, very lucky. Several experienced rehabbers who commented on my original post about him were pessimistic that he’d ever be able to be released back into the wild. But thankfully the damage to his wing wasn’t so serious that it was permanent.
- Barn Owls in Montana are almost nonexistent. They don’t migrate and it’s too damned cold up there for them year round. If you’ve ever spent a typical winter in MT you understand.
What a great story. The initial picture of the owl caught on the wire was painful to see. The last picture of it’s release back into the wild more than made up for it. A great job of rescuing the owl and going back to mend the fence so no other animals were injured. As a newer follower I hadn’t seen the original post so thank you for sharing it again.
Woody
I missed this story the first time around, so I’m glad to have read it now. I’m pleased the bird recovered, and I’m glad you were there to find a creative way to get it to safety. I hate barbed wire for the three-cornered tears in my clothing and what it does to wildlife, but I had to grin at this coincidence: I found a gorgeous beetle cleanly impaled on a barb a couple of weeks ago. Two days later, I passed by the same stretch of fence, and the beetle was gone. My hypothesis: a Loggerhead Shrike had found at least one good use for the wire.
I strongly suspect you’re right about the shrike, Shoreacres. Typical behavior for them.
It makes me so very glad that you and Mia are out there. Even one saved is a miracle. So thank you for being miracle workers (even though I’ll bet you are shaking your head at that. Stop it. Let me be nice. 😀 )
OK, Arwen – “nice” away.
But don’t even try to tell me that you wouldn’t have done the same thing if at all possible.
Hi Ron. When I saw your email title I decided to open it…I just had this “feeling.” Sadly, I wasn’t at all surprised it was this particular story. Sigh. I know all pictures tell a story, and this one has haunted me ever since you posted it in 2015. Clearly you finding that piece of wire deeply impacted you as well. So much for decluttering, lol. You never know what you will uncover. I, the viewer, was also deeply impacted in an odd sort of way. Your image of this poor barn owl impaled on barbed wire created a low level anxiety when my husband and I are on road trips. I used to look out the window and enjoy the scenery, not knowing the potential dangers to our birds of prey. But now this fear of actually coming upon such a sight, as you did, makes me not want to look too closely when we are out on more country type roads. I think the fear is just knowing we wouldn’t have a clue on what to do, definitely don’t travel with gloves, cutting tools and pet carriers, etc. It was extraordinary how you and Mia found the owl and everything came into alignment with the rescue and ultimate release. I suppose we all do what we can…I am that person trying to rescue dogs from hot cars. Anyway, I wanted you to know how this particular photo has never left my mind. Some things you just can’t unsee. I think it would be really cool if you put that image along with the barbed wire in some sort of shadow box or frame. Then, take a photo and send it to the rehab clinic…unless you already have? Sending you warm regards from the SF Bay Area.
Ann, I’m sorry my photo has decreased the joy you used to find on your road trips.
I’d suggest trying a different approach. Yes, finding any bird or critter hung up on wire can be traumatic. But a successful rescue is exceedingly joyful and rewarding. Maybe look at your trips as a potential opportunity for both you and for birds. Any bird trapped on barbed wire would happen whether you take in the scenery on road trips or not.
I’m curious – given the remote location you found yourself in, if Bill had not happened upon the scene, what might you have likely done? Even here in the Bay Area wildlife rehabbers seem few and far between. Are highway patrol trained in such matters, assuming the location is not so remote?
Ann, our only choice would have been to take the owl further west until we got a reliable cell phone signal and start making calls. One of our first calls would likely have been to the Humane Society in Dillon (which is where Bill ended up taking the owl) and they would have made the arrangements to get him to the rehab center in Bozeman, just like they did for Bill.
Where there’s a will there’s a way.
My father-in-law bought a placard for my classroom that read, “A clean desk is the sign of an empty mind.” The same goes for garages and other workspaces. 😉
I’m so glad that you shared with us the happy ending evoked by the bit of devil wire you came across. Seeing the feathers caught in the barb brought tears to my eyes when I think about all the other animals that aren’t so lucky to have you, Mia, and Bill happen by.
“A clean desk is the sign of an empty mind”
Marty, my very large computer desk was next on my list for a decluttering but thanks for the excuse for putting it off! 🙂
Incredibly evocative. And very, very moving.
As was your garage for different reasons. My father was a confirmed pack rat. The garage was not only his work shop it was also where he squirelled away things which might come in handy…
His never looked as organised/tidy as yours does in the ‘after’ photos though. Never, ever.
Believe me, mine doesn’t usually look like that either, EC. I wonder how long it will last this time…
You have me firmly stuck in memory lane. One of my father’s bosses ‘said’ that his door was always open. Father didn’t agree, so he went in one weekend and removed said door to ensure that it was. He brought the door home and installed it on the side of the garage. Where it remained.
Funny story!
Tears of joy. Would have liked to see the ‘before’ picture of the garage 🙂
Ha, if they’d existed I’d have destroyed them!
I’m glad I read all the way thru the comments before adding my own, because I was thinking (like Everett) that this was the “Galileo” incident — but of course, he is a Shortie, in Utah, and he’s an Ed bird now. Still another far happier ending than what might have been. I do now remember this story and those before and after photos — so glad you and Mia were in the right place at the right time (again)!
Your garage/workshop evokes fond memories of my dad, who had one much smaller but still stuffed with tools/equipment for woodworking and car repair. It was always on the disorganized-looking side, but only because it was well-used!
“It was always on the disorganized-looking side, but only because it was well-used!”
Chris, any shop of any kind that looks neat and tidy all of the time was an obvious waste of money, effort and valuable space. In my opinion… 🙂
How I feel about my house, too! 😂
When I saw that first photo I immediately thought of Galileo. It saddens my that one man can encounter two owls trapped by barbed wire in one decade, but I’m certainly grateful that that man was you. Thanks for keeping theses owls in our lives!
Diane, I’m sad to say that it took far less than a decade for me to find those two owls hung up on barbed wire. The two incidents occurred less than one year apart.
Thanks again for cutting the wire and not the owls tendon. Usually people cut the tendon and the bird can not be saved. I remember the story well because just a short time before this happened I was given a juvenile great horned owl who the rescuer had cut the patagial tendon and not the barbed wire.Once this tendon is cut the bird can not even be used for an education bird. The birds wing usually hangs to low at the birds side and the bird can not manage long dragging that long wing around in a cage before other sores and mishaps occur. The great horned owl was not savable and euthanized. Other than the injury to the wing the bird was in perfect health.
Little things like that bring back both sad and happy memories, WRCNU has many such items on display at the center. When I walk past the display cases it brings many memory flashes back.
Your Garage looks incredibly organized! I am impressed.
April, I remember you mentioning cut wing tendons before. Even though I instinctively knew to be very careful, what you said has cemented that into my brain.
My garage may look organized now but you should have seen it three days earlier. Carpenters and mechanics have a saying that idolizes horizontal surfaces for their storage value. Every horizontal surface in my shop was stacked high with disorganized “stuff” and the rest of my shop didn’t look much better.
This is exactly the kind of good story I needed this morning. Thanks, Ron!
Then I’m glad my timing worked out for you. Thanks, Kathleen.
Thank you Ron, Wonderful story!
Thanks, Len.
Another wonderful story Ron! I grew up in cattle country where barbed wire was the wrapping twine of the country…all fences were held together by a variety of barbed skewers.
These days, there are small sections of barbed wire in the forest behind our house that were strung up in the 1930’s. The few sections that are still there are embedded in Fir trees and I have to be very careful when I walk my doggies in this section of the forest, as they often run smack dab into a wire and I have to carefully extract them from the mess.
Guess this wire has (or maybe had) a purpose at one time, but it’s time has come and gone in my neck of the woods. Now, it’s just a hazard that my neighbor has not taken the time nor effort to remove.
Again, wonderful story Ron!
Rick, some of the barbed wire on and near our MT farm was strung in the early 30’s too. Even when it’s been buried in the ground for decades that nasty stuff persists. I can’t tell you how many times I snagged a piece of it with the plow while driving tractor and pulled hundreds of yards of it out of the ground (it would become buried along old abandoned fence lines by blowing dirt).
If a horse becomes tangled in that stuff the result can be horrific. I’ve seen it and I’ll never forget.
An inspiring story to wake up to, Ron. You ought to take that piece of wire and the wire cutters that you used to cut it with (I’m betting you still have them), perhaps a photo of the Owl taking flight, frame them, and put it in one of those garage cabinets, so as it will be a treasure you will look in on but once in a while.
By the way, those cabinets brought back some memories of my own. They look like the ones my father put in the garage when they were replaced with natural wood ones in the kitchen. And I’d swear that’s the same vice I have in my garage that my stepgrandfather owned.
Lyle, I’ve actually been thinking about framing both the wire and the photo of the owl snagged by the wire and hanging them next to each other. We’ll see.
Good eye when it comes to cabinets and old tools. My parents lived with me for the last 5 years of their lives and my dad was a carpenter so he built most of the garage cabinets for tool storage.
And that old vice originally belonged to my grandfather on the MT farm. I salvaged it years ago on one of my trips to the farm to photograph the resident Great Horned Owls. I’m actually surprised you spotted the vice. It’s hard to see.
Wonderful story Ron. Seeing your woodshop in the garage reminds me what a multi talented guy you are. The Barn Owl post was one of my favorites. Kudos to you and Mia for the rescue and to those who rehabilitated and released him back to where he came from. I think this was the story where the rancher was not happy that you cut the barbed wire fence even though it was for such a noble reason? I think I am a fairly literate guy, but I did have to look up evocative to be sure it was what I thought it was.
Everett. the rancher who wasn’t happy with me cutting barbed wire was part of a different incident where I had to cut fence to extract an owl. That owl was a fledgling Short-eared Owl in Utah that eventually became an education bird for HawkWatch International because his injuries were severe enough to cause permanent damage. HWI named him Galileo.
Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. I often have to look up words that are new to me.
I’ve never seen barbed wire like that either. What were they running in there, bison? I’m so glad there are people like you in the world, Ron – caring, determined, conscientious. Sometimes, especially around here, I mourn the loss of human kindness… but i need to hold on to hope.
And thanks for a good cry! If i start my day with a good cry or a good laugh, well, I’m a lucky person.
Such a beautiful owl, too.
Nina, I’m sitting here at my computer with that 7″ piece of wire right in front of me. When I try to bend it using a lot of pressure it barely flexes at all.
Maybe they were running elephants on that range…
Now wouldn’t that be something!
And this story, so beautifully told, is why I look forward to your photos every day. Not that the technical aspects of your photography aren’t sublime, but that the love and respect you have for nature and particularly birds, comes through in your photos. Thank you for sharing your humanity with us.
What a nice comment, Deanna. Thank you.
Oh jeeze, tears in my eyes! Wonderful tale and photos of survival and resourcefulness and love.
Thanks very much, Terry. Finding that wire in my garage/shop was fairly emotional for me too. At times memories can actually feel like the real thing.
Nice trip down memory lane – one that had a good outcome…… 🙂 Can see you obviously had experience with splicing fence! 😉 Hopefully the shop finally got tidied up a bit…….. 😉 It’s quite the shop!
Judy, we had almost no barbed wire fence on our MT farm but I spent several summers working for farmers and ranchers who had barbed wire fences so much of my experience was gained on their places. Nasty stuff…
Nice to see the Barn Owl release photo. And a beautiful wood shop!
Dan, I don’t know if my wood shop is beautiful but it’s functional and very, very handy when I need it.
I remember this story very well, Ron. Thanks for sharing it again! I’m so glad it had a happy ending. We need those!
We sure do. Thanks, Alison.