This past Christmas Eve, an Illinois family glanced up into a tree on their property and found a surprising visitor hanging by a thread.
A barred owl had accidentally tangled her wing in an old piece of kite string in the branches.
Now, she was hopelessly stuck.
The Talon Trust
The worried family members set up a ladder and climbed into the tree’s canopy. They cut the string from the branch, gently grabbed the owl and secured her in a basket on the ground. In need of expert help, they contacted The Talon Trust, a local raptor conservation and rescue group, for backup.
The Talon Trust
Soon, the owl was safe with a rescue volunteer, who carefully examined the bird for injuries. The owl appeared well-fed and alert, but her right wing was drooping, signaling a potential injury.
Later that day, a veterinarian confirmed that while the wing was likely sore, it wasn’t broken or otherwise badly injured. The owl would be just fine.
Rescuers kept the bird in a safe enclosure while her wing recovered. They watched in awe as she regained her former vitality.
The Talon Trust
“Her behavior in the enclosure indicated that she was feeling much better, as she was able to navigate all around,” Talon Trust president Jennifer Lindsey told The Dodo.
Rescuers hope this story encourages community members to clean up kite string and fishing line, as this litter can be extremely dangerous for native wildlife.
Luckily, in this case, the owl wasn’t badly harmed. After 11 days in care, she was released back into the wild near the family’s home.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to release an injured bird back into the wild,” Lindsey said. “The family was excited to be able to see its release in their backyard and [hopes] to continue to be able to see and hear it.”
To help other animals like this owl, you can donate to The Talon Trust. 
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