Renewable Revolution

Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio)

Hero Freed Dangling Owl with Tree Branch, Then They Rested in a Hotel Together


by Laura Simpson
February 2, 2015
5:30 pm

A guest at the Bel Air Inn in West Springfield, Massachusetts was startled to lay eyes on an Eastern screech owl who was hanging upside down from a crevice in the corner of the building. Our hero, who goes only by the name Jose, didn’t waste any time. He immediately phoned wildlife rescuers for help, but he was unable to reach anyone for help. Rather than sitting on his hands, Jose decided to get resourceful.

Fullscreen capture 1312015 91122 PM.bmpThe owl’s foot had somehow become wedged into a crevice between the first and second floor on the exterior of the building. Though Jose couldn’t reach the owl overhead, he was able to find a tree branch and began offering it to the owl. The owl was able to right himself on the branch, and with a bit of gentle maneuvering from Jose, the animal was soon able to flutter to the ground.

Jose felt a rush of relief when he saw the owl perch in a bush, but the sense of relief was short lived. Jose soon noticed the owl was bleeding.

Though some might have shook their head and walked away, Jose had a better idea. He decided to take the owl into custody. He gently scooped up the small owl and carried it back inside and all the way into his hotel room.


While the owl found a lovely perch on top of the kitchen cabinets and surveyed the room from a safe height, Jose made some more calls and was able to find a wildlife rehabilitator who was willing to help. It would be a few hours’ wait, but the owl was soon fast asleep     , undoubtedly exhausted from his ordeal.


We don’t know Joes’s full name and we probably never will. There’s something about anonymity that makes a hero seem ten feet tall. In this case, that was exactly tall enough to save the life of one desperate little bird.

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Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/hero-freed-dangling-owl-with-tree-branch-then-they-rested-in-a-hotel-together.html#ixzz3Qj5wZtDY