It usually takes a lot to get us angry, but the arrival of a young tawny owl did just that!

In October 2000, we were asked to take a young owl for release from a rehabilitation centre near Cambridge that was closing down. It seemed a bit strange, that late in the year, but we agreed nonetheless. After all, that’s what we’re for.

When the bird arrived the first thing that hit us was the smell. He wasn’t just dirty, he was rancid!

The second shock was his age. This was a fully fledged tawny that should have been released months ago.

What made us really angry was the fact that just about every flight feather had rotted away.

He was a charming and uncomplaining bird who we christened ‘Scruff’. He had evidently been kept in a small Voyager pet box for several months without ever being cleaned out. During the course of cleaning him, we found that a small wound on his left wing had become infected – presumably as a result of being kept in filthy conditions.

He was prescribed a course of anti-biotics by the vet but the infection was deep rooted and had affected the feather follicles and he started to loose his primary feathers.

Unfortunately, Scruff’s wing infection didn’t respond to the anti-biotic treatment and there was no chance that his flight feathers would re-grow and on veterinary advice he was put to sleep.

There is little doubt that, had he been properly cared for and hacked back at the correct time, he could have been successfully released as a fit and healthy young owl.

So, please, if you don’t know how to care for wild raptors, find someone who does!