Last September, the team at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRW) received a call that sounded familiar. A homeowner reported that a great horned owl had become tangled in his son’s soccer net and couldn’t free himself.
Situations like this aren’t unusual for RRW, but the call took an unexpected turn when the homeowner explained that the family had already managed to untangle the owl. Even though he was technically free, something didn’t seem right.
“They contacted us right away because they didn’t feel comfortable approaching the owl and were concerned that he wasn’t flying away,” RRW shared on Facebook.
An experienced RRW volunteer was dispatched to the home, where he found the owl trapped inside a gated yard — soaked to the bone.
“The yard contained an in-ground pool, and it appeared the owl had fallen into the water while trying to hide,” RRW wrote.
Wide-eyed and dripping wet, the owl was clearly exhausted. The rescuer was able to safely capture him and transport him to RRW’s facility. Although the netting had been removed, staff suspected there could be hidden injuries.
“There are often underlying issues with wildlife entanglements,” RRW explained. “That’s why it’s always best to bring them in for a full exam.”
Their instincts proved right. During a thorough assessment, the team made a troubling discovery.
“The owl had some abrasions and swelling, but most concerning was that netting was still tightly wrapped around his neck,” RRW wrote.
The veterinary team immediately and carefully cut away the remaining netting, then treated the owl’s wounds to prevent infection. Afterward, he was given a quiet space to rest and recover. Though tired, he showed promising signs of resilience.
Over the following weeks, the owl regained strength and was eventually moved to a flight enclosure, where he practiced flying and rebuilding endurance. Before long, he was soaring around the space as if the ordeal had never happened.
Once the team was confident he was ready, they chose a release date. When that day arrived, the owl didn’t hesitate.
“He immediately recognized his surroundings and flew off so quickly that he vanished into the dense trees,” RRW shared. “We couldn’t even spot him once he blended back into the forest.”
You can see more photos of the owl being released here:
Watching him return home was deeply rewarding for his rescuers. While they wish the owl had never become entangled — something that could have been prevented if unused sports netting had been stored safely — they were grateful to play a role in his recovery.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to see that they know they are home,” RRW wrote.
To support wildlife rescues like this one, you can donate to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center.
