Donations of dead mice, squirrels, birds wanted for owls

A veterinary hospital inB.C.Kootenay regionis putting out a public plea for donations of road kill and rodents.

The Invermere Veterinary Hospitalis facing a shortage of dead mice to feed its birds of prey.

'Of course we don't want poisoned mice or... rodents that have been shot with anything like a lead slug.' Dr. Mark Zehnder, veterinarian

Mark Zehnder, a doctor atanimal hospital, says the facility runs a raptor rehabilitation program with two patients at the moment.

"One is a great horned owl and the other is a barred owl, and they will probably go through, together, probably aboutfive or six mice a day," he said.

And, the busy season is fast approaching, he says.

In previous years, the hospital has put an ad in the classifieds for nearby residents to bring in any dead mice or squirrels.

"Basically like 'calling all dead mice' or whatever... That type of thing," he said.

And again, this year, the clinic is hoping to get hundreds of rodents for the mid and late-spring rush.

In addition to dead mice, the hospital will also take dead squirrels or small birds but only animals that died fromalmost-natural deaths.

"Of course we don't want poisoned mice, or we don't want rodents that have been shot with anything like a lead slug, 'cause that can poison the birds as well," Zehnder said.

"So, if they catch them in a trap, then they can put them in a plastic bag in the freezer and if they want to bring them in to us, we'll be happy to take them."

If the clinic doesn't get enough rodents donated, it will buy them.