this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2025
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Superbowl

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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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From A Place Called Hope

This baby is too young to be out of his/her nest spot. At this age, they are doomed on the ground. Mom might feed a nest fall victim at first, but the babies who remain in the actual nest takes priority and Mom can't sit on babies in two places.

If you come across a baby bird on the ground, that is not mobile and is downy covered, it needs intervention.

A Place Called Hope works seven days a week when it comes to the birds we cater to, which include all birds of prey, vultures, and the corvids (crows, ravens, bluejays).

This little one will return to a wild nest asap. The nest tree is posing a challenge. It's not a good one for our climbing team. The nest itself is over 80 feet (24.5 meters) up with few limbs. It's incredible this baby is uninjured!

Fledged birds will have adult feathers. If they are moving about and doing things, they are likely fine and just doing owl things. Fuzzy, down covered ones like this can't escape danger or get food, so they do need help. Please do not give them food or water. Note your location (so the animal can be returned home), and get it to a rescue for the best chance of a positive outcome.

Help win some free meals for owls!

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Watch that first step! 😅

[–] [email protected] 7 points 21 hours ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Thank you for your support! We move into a tie for 2nd!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

The owls have been a constant source of smiles round here. This requires near-zero effort, so it's literally the least we could do to give back!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago

It is still something you did take the time to do, so I appreciate it greatly, whether we win or not. I also appreciate knowing what we do here makes a positive difference for so many. ❤️

[–] [email protected] 2 points 12 hours ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

Yay! Thank you! Let's fill some owl bellies!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

Thank you for voting. You can vote again in 24 hours. leaderboard

[–] [email protected] 5 points 21 hours ago

Thank you for voting. You can vote again in 24 hours. leaderboard

[–] [email protected] 12 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

That ball of fluff looks so proud of themself.

probably hasn't dawned on them that it's a long way back up.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 23 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Haha excellent giffin'. I would love to know more about a specialist climber/rescuer who is willing to face adult owls in their nests.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

"I'm the Baby, gotta love me!"

Most of the tales I see of owl nest encroachment seem uneventful. The owls probably consider it rude, but with as big and noisy and clumsy in trees as we probably seem, it's not as though we're sneaking up on them, so there's probably a lessened sense of danger. The parents just seem to hang nearby and observe in the photos I see. It's not like they can snatch the babies off to safety or anything.

I shared an article here once about the "olden days" of owling, and the one group wanted to monitor a Flammulated Owl nest. They just chainsawed a slice out of the back side so they could stuff a camera in there and the owl was inside the whole time and didn't freak out or really seemed bothered, at least the way the author told it.

They also will look for Short Ear Owls nests in the grasslands by running a rope between a pair of 4 wheelers and dragging it through the grass to flush out the parents. Again, I dont think they are thrilled, but they return to business as usual right after.

For murder machines, owls seem rather chill most of the time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Today, I learned! All we seem to have near here (mixed pasture and cedar woods) are the kind that say "who cooks for you?". I can't remember the species, but they seem cool. No mouse problem this winter. I give owl neighbors all the credit.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

The Barred Owl is the one that cooks for you!

They are very cool, but dont get too close this time of year. They'll swoop!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 14 hours ago

I shall not, I like them out on the edge of the woods.