A wildlife rescue charity has described a barn owl as “incredibly fortunate” after it was discovered entangled in a kite line tied to a tree.
Secret World Rescue reported that the owl had been caught by the tip of its wing, with the string wrapped tightly around a tree in a Bristol garden.
After receiving weeks of care and rehabilitation, the owl was successfully released back into the same garden.
“This rescue underscores the urgent need to dispose of litter responsibly, as it poses severe threats to wildlife,” a spokesperson for the charity emphasized.
The charity, based in Highbridge, Somerset, was alerted to the incident in October. Recognizing the urgency, they quickly dispatched a response driver.
However, by the time help arrived, another rescuer had transported the owl to a local veterinary clinic, and Secret World was tasked with overseeing its rehabilitation.
The owl was treated with antibiotics for swelling under its wings but fortunately had no fractures.
“It also suffered a bruised cere—the fleshy area around its nostrils—but was still able to fly and behave normally,” the spokesperson explained.
After weeks of rest, during which the swelling subsided and its muscle strength returned, the team was overjoyed to release the owl back into its original habitat.