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Owl hit by car in downtown Vancouver in rehabilitative care (PHOTOS)

The owl was "suffering from several injuries to its left side, including a swollen left eye, damaged primary feathers on its left wing, and blood pooling in its mouth."

 Photo courtesy Wildlife Rescue Association of BCPhoto courtesy Wildlife Rescue Association of BC

Delta's O.W.L. facility has a new patient on hand: A Barred Owl that was found injured in downtown Vancouver Monday morning.

The owl was initially taken in by the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC. The org's rep says the owl arrived "suffering from several injuries to its left side, including a swollen left eye, damaged primary feathers on its left wing, and blood pooling in its mouth."

 Wildlife Rescue Association of BCWildlife Rescue Association of BC

Wildlife Rescue adds that the injuries suggest the owl was hit by a car.

The injured owl has been transferred to Delta's O.W.L. (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehab for continued care.

There have been numerous Barred Owl sightings in the city recently.

O.W.L.'s Rob Hope told the Canadian Press that while more owls as predators means less rats and mice, it also means more birds stand to be victims of prey.

 Photo courtesy Wildlife Rescue Association of BCPhoto courtesy Wildlife Rescue Association of BC

The owls tend to make themselves vulnerable to things like traffic when they come down to pick up prey like rats or pigeons, says Hope.

With increased development going on, it's likely we'll see even more Barred Owls in urban areas searching for food.