BOWDEN – A barred owl with substantial injuries received a new lease on life thanks to an observant motorist who noticed the injured bird alongside the roadway. Corely pulled his vehicle over and carefully approached the owl, which still refused to move despite a human’s being nearby. Corley and Rennix proceeded to transport the owl to raptor specialist Jo Santiago, who is also a first responder for birds of prey. Petting or unnecessarily handling an injured bird actually causes significant stress and further compromises its chances of recovery.” If anyone comes across an injured raptor, they are asked to call the Avian Conservation Center’s hotline at 304-906-5428 or the WVDNR Conservation Police.