Last month, the staff at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, received a distressing call from a man over an hour away in Halifax. The man seemed frantic as he described the tiny feathered baby he’d just spontaneously rescued from a dangerous situation.
“A kind-hearted man named Michael spotted the tiny creature alongside the road and instinctively pulled over to save it,” RRWC wrote on Facebook. “It was nothing short of a miracle that he noticed such a small animal in evident pain and distress.”
The baby owl lay helpless on the side of the road with his eyes covered in a blinding layer of gunk, but luckily Michael refused to leave him behind. He carefully wrapped the owlet in a towel, then raced home, where his wife helped figure out the next steps. The couple called RRWC and explained the urgent situation.
“Their concern was palpable as they described the severe injuries to the right side of the owl’s face, leaving them unsure if it had also lost its eye,” RRWC wrote.
RRWC agreed to take in the baby, and the couple soon set off on a road trip to the wildlife center with the injured owlet in their laps. As soon as they got to RRWC, the staff jumped into action to help the struggling baby.
“Upon arrival, our dedicated team quickly admitted the owl, and our skilled rehabilitation specialist set to work, carefully cleaning the deep wounds above and below its eye,” RRWC wrote. “Despite its tiny size, the owl faced significant challenges that required meticulous cleaning, flushing, and medication.”
Neither Michael nor the RRWC staff knew for sure what’d happened to the tiny owl. But as the medical team slowly wiped the debris away from the owl’s eyes, they got a clearer picture of just how brave he was.
The owlet sat patiently as the crew worked on his face until, suddenly, he cracked one eye open.
The staff was thrilled to see one of the baby owl’s eyes, but they were still worried about the second one.
They continued cleaning, and before they knew it, the sweet baby opened his second eye. With the owlet now staring directly at them, the team sighed with relief at the confirmation that both eyes were healthy.
After the successful procedure, the RRWC staff set the owlet in a cozy enclosure for the night, hoping he would feel even better after a good night’s sleep. The next morning, they were pleasantly surprised to see him more alert than ever before.
“In a breathtaking turnaround, less than 24 hours later, the owl began to show signs of improvement, perking up and slowly accepting hand-feeding,” RRWC wrote.
Thanks to Michael’s diligent rescue efforts and RRWC’s dedication to cleaning his face, the owl felt much better the next day and has continued to thrive in the weeks since. He is still receiving care at RRWC to regain his strength before being released back into the wild. But, thankfully, his worst days are behind him.
And, as the staff at RRWC see it, there’s only one person to thank for that.
“It is truly astonishing how this little owl’s survival hinged on the compassion of a stranger willing to go to extraordinary lengths,” RRWC wrote. “Without Michael’s commitment to seeking help, this vulnerable baby owl might not have made it. We are profoundly grateful for the kindness that transformed this little one’s fate.”
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