Snowy owls going hungry on P.E.I.

Driven south by a lack of food, there are about 10 times as many snowy owls as usual on P.E.I. this year, but they are not having much luck on the Island.

Wildlife officials estimate there are at least 20 snowy owls on the Island this year, compared to the usual one or two during the winter months. Some are running into trouble.

Dwaine Oakley of Holland College's Wildlife Conservation Technology program in Charlottetown and an avid birder, told CBC News Monday the spread of the birds throughout the southern part of eastern Canada appears to be the result of unfortunate timing in a crash of the owl's favorite food.

"There was an overabundance of young snowy owls this year because the lemming population was good during the breeding season," said Oakley.

"The owls correspond to that by having more young, but the problem is, they figure, the lemming population crashed later in the season. So you have a lot of young owls looking for a small amount of food."

Four snowy owls have been turned in to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown this year. Having difficulty adjusting to southern hunting conditions, three died of starvation.

The fourth, dubbed Hedwig, came in with a broken wing. She was found in a field with a fox approaching her, but couldn't leave the ground.

Veterinarians put a pin in her wing, and she's been rehabilitating for three weeks.

"We have to catch her, and we have to gradually do the range of motion with her joint, and gently, gently stretching it," said Dr. Hans Gelens of AVC.

"It's very similar to people, except you can't explain what's going on. For the bird, it's a stressor to be caught."

If physiotherapy goes well for the owl she will be released back into the wild, near where she was found in eastern P.E.I. If it turns out she can't fly well enough to hunt, she'll be found a home in a Canadian wildlife park.

Students are thrilled to get close to the owl.

"They just look so special," said Holland College student Shawn Donovan. "Just an amazing animal to see."

Oakley said everyone should try to get a glimpse of a snowy owl before they migrate again in March. He warned, however, not to get so close to disturb them because they're busy trying to hunt.