I went out to call the dog back in and saw this superb owl hanging out in the cedar on the other side of our fence.
this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2025
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For owls that are superb.
US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now
International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com
Australia Rescue Help: WIRES
Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org
If you find an injured owl:
Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.
Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.
Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.
If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.
For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.
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Jealous you got to hold one. I've always wanted to hold a bird of prey but haven't had or really looked for an opportunity.
I will say this... If you want to get close to a living owl, that a private experience like this is the easiest way to do it. This was at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh (great city) and was like $75. Not bad at all.
But the real talk... If you want to learn and experience hands on time with owls, save your cash, and search Google for "owl events near me" and go to those. Regular people aren't allowed to actually touch owls. But they can touch specimens brought in to those animal ambassador events where they're there to teach the public about owls.
I've been to a number, and they'll pass around different things: bones, skulls, pellets, feathers, wings, feet. Holding the owl was pretty cool, not going to lie, but I didn't learn anything. The glove felt heavier than the owl, so it was like holding air. Handling the specimens let me learn more than almost all the reading on them I've done. You can really see the difference in the owl feathers vs other birds, how they're so much more delicate to stay quiet. You can feel the grippy almost gecko feet to grab onto prey, you see how big those eyes really are when you get up close to the skull. You feel the weightlessness of bones built for flight. To me, that was the really amazing stuff I've gotten to experience.
I'm seeking the next owl high though, so I'm trying to get in as a volunteer at the largest rescue in my lifestate. They're not Raptor exclusive, but they certainly get them in and have ambassador owls that someone has to handle.
If you're more into the photography, I'd recommend hitting up someone like MN Owl Tours of the Saw Whet Whisperer. No matter your owl dream, there's someone that can make it happen.