Wildlife still suffering after summer wildfires

Between La Ronge and Prince Albert dead ravens were scattered.

“It was very smoky in the air and that had to have been what they were sensitive to and why they perished in that fire,” Minter explained.

In July, a great grey owl with burnt wings and feet was rescued from the fire and taken to the veterinary hospital in Saskatoon.

Now, the province is seeing a delayed effect on snowy owls.

“Seven or eight of them in northern Saskatchewan, within the last 10 days, have been located and they’re all immature snowy owls,” said Minter.

Each owl found has been transported to the Veterinary College in Saskatoon uninjured but have been deemed sick and unable to grow to full maturity.

“The effects of smoke is similar for both human and wildlife,” said Minter. “We both experience that irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract and it can aggravate and cause chronic lung diseases and reduced lung function.”

During a fire, a high concentration of smoke and ash hangs in the air causing persistent coughing, wheezing and increased effort in breathing for not just people, but animals as well.

When an owl is in the early stages of development and the air is smoky, the development of their respiratory system is impeded and in many cases they are unable to survive, says Minter.

“We brought one in, comforted it and were arranging to take it to the vet college the next morning but it unfortunately died over night,” said Minter. “It’s quite tragic, what we’re seeing happening here.”

On Monday, two Transwest Air pilots spotted a snowy owl visibly suffering on airport property.

A pack of ravens were starting to attack the weakened animal so the pilots intervened, taking it to the conservation office.

Conservation officers decided the owl would need to be transported to the Veterinary College in Saskatoon and Transwest Air offered to take the owl there for free.

“It’s great to see that members of the public do care about nature and the wildlife and want to do everything they can to help it out,” said Minter. “In reality, that’s something that this owl really needed.”

Minter said he hasn’t heard an update on the owl’s condition.

It may take some time for wildlife in northern Saskatchewan to recover from the fire season. Minter said it seems to have had a huge effects on the 2015 year class, and many of this year’s young will have been lost due to the fire.

Minter saw eagles flying near Sikachu Lake. Looking towards the forest, he noticed the nests were burnt up, meaning all the baby eaglets, unable to escape, would’ve died.

Still, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Minter said fires are natural and can help forests thrive. Jack pine, as well as other plants and trees, flourish after forest fires.

“It is part of a natural thing that rejuvenates things, but unfortunately it brings an end to some things as well,” said Minter.

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Wildlife still suffering after summer wildfires

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