Long Island barn owl Nebula still missing after 3 weeks

This may remain a hoot-dunit.

Nebula, the six-year-old fugitive European barn owl, remains on the lam nearly three weeks after hightailing it from a Long Island nature sanctuary.

“There have been no credible sightings” in the last week, according to Janine Bendicksen, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Director at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown.

This is the second time Nebula has flown the coop. Sweetbriar Nature Center

Sweetbriar staffers have said it is possible Nebula could have died, as she was bred in captivity and has relied on humans for her care all six years of her life.

However, Sweetbriar staffers remains hopeful Nebula’s natural instincts could kick in, meaning it is possible she’s started hunting rodents and small mammals, including rabbits, for her survival.

Typically, barn owls can die after three days without food or water, becoming dehydrated which leads to organ failure.

Sweetbriar staffers have looked into every the dozens of tips they’ve received since Nebula slipped away from her handler on Oct. 25. “We’ve been all over Long Island, and people are still out there looking for her,” Bendicksen told The Post.

“Most of the tips we’ve received have been for Great Horned owls,” which are native to Long Island and hoot. Barn owls screech, which has also led to “reports that ended up being squirrels,” Bendicksen said.

“The outreach from the public has been beyond wonderful,” she added.

She also doesn’t have to contend with skyscrapers like Flaco, the world famous Central Park snowy owl who ended up dying soon after flying into a Manhattan building’s window in 2024.

Tips can be phoned into Sweetbriar at (631) 979-6344.