Last September, the folks at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRW) received a call for help that felt all too familiar. A local homeowner reported finding a great horned owl tangled in his son’s soccer netting, and he was too entwined to get out on his own.
While the RRW staff is used to getting calls about wildlife trapped in sports netting, this case took an unexpected turn when the homeowner reported that they’d untangled the owl themselves. The owl was free, but his behavior after being released concerned them.
“They contacted us right away because they didn’t feel comfortable approaching the owl and were also concerned that [he] wasn’t flying away,” RRW wrote on Facebook.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
An experienced RRW volunteer soon arrived at the caller’s house, where he found the owl confined to a gated area, dripping with water.
“The owl was trapped in a gated yard that contained an in-ground pool, and it appeared to have fallen into the pool while trying to find a hiding spot,” RRW wrote.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
The poor owl was wide-eyed and sopping wet when the volunteer approached him. Thankfully, the rescuer managed to capture the owl quickly and rushed him to RRW’s headquarters. While he was technically free from the net, the staff at RRW had a hunch that the little owl wasn’t entirely out of the woods health-wise.
“There are often more hidden injuries when dealing with these animals, which is why it’s always best to bring them in for a detailed examination,” RRW wrote.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
While performing a routine examination on the owl, the RRW staff discovered something life-threatening that had gone unnoticed before.
“Upon assessment, we discovered that the owl had a few abrasions and swelling, but one of the most concerning issues was that netting was still tightly wrapped around its neck,” RRW wrote.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
As soon as they discovered the netting, the veterinary team quickly and carefully snipped it off. They treated the owl’s neck and the rest of his wounds to avoid infection, then let him settle into his new habitat for some rest. As tired as the little guy was, the team remained hopeful that he would soon make a full recovery.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
Weeks later, the owl graduated from his recovery habitat to a flight cage, where he could practice flying again and regain his strength. It wasn’t long before the resilient owl was flying around his cage as if nothing had happened, and his caregivers decided he was officially strong enough to return home.
The team then set a release date. And when the day came to release the owl back into his natural habitat, they were overjoyed by his reaction.
“The owl immediately recognized his surroundings and flew off so quickly that he disappeared into the dense trees, blending in so well that we were unable to spot him,” RRW wrote on Facebook.
You can see more photos of the owl being released here:
The owl was thrilled to return home, and his dedicated rescuers couldn’t have been happier about the outcome.
While they wish the owl had never been trapped in the first place, which could’ve been avoided had the unused sports netting been stored properly, they’re honored to have been a part of his recovery.
And seeing him soar into his natural habitat again made it all worthwhile.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to see that they know they are home,” RRW wrote.
To help wild animals like this owl get the care they need, you can donate to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center here.
Heartbroken Dog Refuses To Leave Street Corner Where His Family Left Him“For two long months, this little soul waited …”