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When workers began pouring concrete at a resort construction site in southwestern Utah, they were met with a surprise: A great horned owl appeared in the slurry as it emptied from the truck, its body coated with the mixture.<\/p>\n
Workers came to the bird\u2019s aid, hosing it down before the environmental affairs director at the Black Desert Resort wrapped it in a towel and made a call to state wildlife officials.<\/p>\n
It took days for workers at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab to painstakingly remove the concrete from the bird\u2019s face, chest and right wing. They called the bird a \u201cfighter,\u201d and it is expected to fly free again.<\/p>\n
Joseph Platt, the environmental affairs director, said Wednesday that there is a conservation area at Black Desert and wildlife commonly wander onto its property. <\/p>\n
He said the resort is adding a two-story underground garage, and as one of the concrete trucks arrived, the workers heard a noise and thought they hit something. When they began pouring concrete, the owl came out.<\/p>\n
Platt said his main concern was the concrete dust in its eyes. <\/p>\n
Luke Matschek, a state biologist who responded to the call, said birds that aren\u2019t very injured put up a fight, but this owl reached a phase of \u201ctotal acceptance.\u201d He called the sanctuary to see if they had space for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looked rough, but not to the point of being unsavable. He looked like he needed a little bit of care and attention,\u201d Matschek said.<\/p>\n
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