A barn owl that got the tip of its wing snared in a discarded kite line and was trapped in a tree in Bristol has been nursed back to health and released back into the wild.
Bosses at the Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre said the owl was ‘very lucky’, and said the case highlighted the importance of not just leaving litter and stuff out in the world – as it can have a ’devastating impact’ on wildlife.
The owl was spotted stranded, stuck and struggling up a tree in Bristol back in October. Secret World, which is based in Highgbridge in Somerset, were called, but thankfully by the time they got there, another rescuer had managed to free the owl and get it down from the tree.
“We received a call about a Barn Owl tangled in a kite line in Bristol,” said a spokesperson for Secret World. “The kite string was wrapped around a tree, and the owl had become ensnared by the tip of its wing while flying.
“Realising the urgency, we dispatched one of our response drivers to rescue the owl. By the time they arrived, another rescuer had already taken the owl to a local veterinary practice. We were later contacted to provide further rehabilitation,” they added.
Back at Secret World, the owl was nursed back to full strength and examined, and allowed time to recover fully before being released.
“The owl was given antibiotics, and although there was swelling under both wings, we are pleased to report there were no fractures,” the spokesperson said. “It also had a bruised cere, the fleshy area around its nostrils, but was able to fly and exhibit normal behaviours.
“After a few weeks of rehabilitation, allowing the swelling to subside and muscle strength to return, we were thrilled to release the owl back into the garden where it was found,” they said. “This rescue highlights the critical importance of removing litter, as it can have devastating impacts on wildlife. This was one very lucky Barn Owl,” they added.