Blind owl’s instincts take over

Published 9:51 pm Friday, July 9, 2010

ELLENSBURG — Seven babies may seem like a handful, but with a mother like Samantha and her assistant Marnee Wines looking after them, they are no problem at all.

Samantha, a blind, female great horned owl, has lived with Wines and her menagerie of rescued animals at the Kittitas Wildlife Rehabilitation Group for nearly 10 years. The nonprofit organization is run by Wines and Mike Fuller, a veterinarian at the Ellensburg Animal Hospital.

Samantha usually cares for two or three great horned owlets that are brought to the center each year, but this year she has a parliament of seven. Five of them were brought in at the same time. Wines has had 57 animals so far this year, which can be overwhelming.

“I just have so many animals, it’s hard to keep things together,” Wines said. “We have critters everywhere.”

Along with the seven great horned owlets, the center also is caring for a bald eagle, a golden eagle and several young barn owls. Wines had between 25 and 30 barn owls, but most of them have been released.

Fuller has an additional 24 animals she is housing at the animal hospital, including eight baby raccoons and 12 mallard ducklings.

The increased number of chicks didn’t faze Samantha the owl. She tore up some chicken hearts and called them using a mewing sound.

“It’s just very strange,” Wines said. “In 10 years I’ve never heard or seen her do that.”

Wines was even more surprised when, after Samantha fed all of the hearts to the owlets, she turned toward Wines and called her. According to Wines, it was as if she was telling her to get more food. Wines obliged.

The organization, on Wines’ horse ranch on Brickmill Road, began with Wines and her love of animals.

Wines obtained a degree in wildlife ecology from Central Washington University in 2000. Shortly afterward, she began asking around at places such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife about helping out with animal rescues.

Eventually, she partnered with Fuller and the Ellensburg Animal Hospital. She also works with the Department of Fish and Wildlife on a regular basis.

Wines’ first rescue was an ornery, sick young black bear who she kept in her horse trailer. Wines made sure the bear was well cared for. It’s what she does for all her animals.

“You just got to feed them, take care of them,” Wines said. “They’re first.”

Samantha was one of her early rescues as well. She was found on the side of Interstate 82. Wines believes that she was probably hit by a car while hunting. Samantha lost one eye in the accident and is blind in the other.

Now, after more than 10 years, Wines has become much like a mother bird herself. She chastises squawking parrots and wandering dogs, praises Samantha and encourages Thorp the golden eagle to get back on his wings. She even trains the young great horned owls to catch mice.

“She’s very patient with them,” Fuller said. “She keeps working with them. She just enjoys it.”

Funds mostly come from Wines’ husband, Walt Wines, who is the superintendent of the Kittitas County Public Utility District. Wines also sells horses. She also accepts donations.

“I wouldn’t be able to afford it, if not for his job,” Wines said.

Fuller, who has known Wines for over 10 years, donates most of his services. “The work she does, it takes an awful lot of time,” he said.

Wines is licensed to care for any kind of wildlife.

“Pretty much anything that needs help, we can do,” Wines said.

Her goal is to release all of the rescued animals that she can. The two oldest horned owls will be released onto the Swauk Valley Ranch in the next week.

“That’s the best part of what I do,” Wines said. “It’s a lot of work to get them to fly off. It always brings tears to my eyes.”

Anyone who finds a downed or injured bird or would like to donate freezer-burned deer or elk meat, can call Wines at 509-856-6657.