July 20thMeanwhile, Pirate flew down to the ground near the bike path where there were several large puddles in the dirt. I watched him here for a short time, determining if he would be approachable. He didn't startle with people walking on the path, even with a dog and his owner strolling by. So, I attempted to approach him, but he took off low across the river and landed on the dirt bank underneath the I-90 bridge. After a little while, he flew back across the river, through the trees to the south of Hilliard, under both bridges and into the woods to the north of the I-90 bridge. I saw that he was on a downed tree barely off the ground. So, I tried to retrieve him again, approaching from the back toward his left eye side where I was able to grab him before he flew. Sprayed him with water and hurried him off to the Medina Raptor Center.
Laura provided some urgent care, hydrating him subcutaneously, tube-feeding him, medicating him with an immune system booster and other meds, and cleansing his eye thoroughly. He appears to have a fairly serious case of Trichomoniasis (Frounce) in his mouth and throat, which was likely disrupting his eating and swallowing. This had a distinct odor, which at first I thought was coming from his infected eye, but Laura clarified that it was from the Frounce. After his eye was cleaned, he was able to open it just to a small slit. He was reasonably fiesty, though, and I felt far more optimistic about his chances after Laura provided care than I did when I first got him. At the very least he will be kept comfortable, so we'll have to see what happens from here. Of course, we'll keep providing updates as we know them.
July 24thVery sorry to report that Pirate didn't make it. His case of Trichomonaisis was apparently very aggressive and was responsible for his eye problem. It caused the bone surrounding the eye and the lower mandible to severely deteriorate, so he had to be euthanized on Thursday. Dr. Riggs believes that the heat probably accelerated the virus.
