Amid the chaos of the massive Silverado Fire in California, firefighters stumbled upon a small, fragile life in desperate need of help — a young barn owl.
The little owl’s feathers had been singed by the flames, leaving him unable to fly or escape danger on his own. Gently, the crew wrapped him in a coat and carried him away from the fire. Resting in their arms, the owl seemed to know he was finally safe.
Here's that moment on video:
“He’s safe and sound and currently with animal control,” the Orange County Fire Authority later shared.
The owl was quickly transferred to the Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital, where veterinarians confirmed that, thankfully, his injuries were mostly superficial. His feathers had been damaged, but with time, they’ll grow back.
“We will have to hold onto him for a number of months until he molts new feathers,” his caretakers explained. “Once he gets new feathers, he will be able to be released.”
For now, the owl is proving to be a fighter.
“[He’s] quite feisty, which is a great sign!” the hospital wrote in an update.
Thanks to the firefighters’ compassion and the dedication of wildlife experts, this little owl has a second chance. One day, he’ll return to the skies where he belongs.
“This is why we do what we do,” the hospital shared.
To help this owl and others like him recover, donations can be made to the Orange County Bird of Prey Center.
