“We wish them a long and happy rest of their life” ❤️
There’s nothing wildlife rehabilitators cherish more than watching a healed animal soar back into freedom. But sometimes, a release represents more than recovery — it marks the start of a meaningful bond. That was the case at Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI), where two rescued barred owls who began as strangers were ultimately returned to the wild side by side.
It began in April 2025, when REGI received an urgent call about a young owl tangled in a barbed wire fence. Concerned landowners had discovered him trapped and immediately stepped in to help, carefully cutting him free and rushing him to the rehabilitation center.
Though the owl was alert, his wing had been badly damaged. After sedating him to safely remove embedded wire, the team realized he was just a juvenile — likely hatched only a couple of months earlier. While old enough to fly, barred owls typically remain with their parents through the fall, learning essential survival skills.
The realization was heartbreaking. Not only was he seriously injured, but he was also suddenly alone.
Against the odds, the young owl steadily improved. Within a few months, he was flying again. By summer, he was moved into a spacious outdoor enclosure with other recovering barred owls — a major milestone in his healing journey.
Six months after his rescue, REGI received several calls — including reports from the Wisconsin Highway Patrol and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office — about an adult female barred owl struck by a vehicle. Tragically, she had lost her baby in the accident.
When she arrived, she was suffering from a head injury and internal bleeding. Given that barred owls weigh only around 1.5 to 1.75 pounds, surviving a collision with a speeding car is rare. Yet remarkably, she had no fractures, and her bleeding eventually stopped. With careful monitoring and treatment, she began to recover.
By December, the resilient mother was strong enough to join the same large enclosure as the once-injured young male.
With about 10 owls sharing the space, staff didn’t expect any particular pair to bond. But during a routine check, they witnessed something extraordinary. The female owl had positioned herself protectively beside the young male, even draping a wing around him. When staff approached, she clacked her beak in warning — a clear sign she had assumed a maternal role.
From that day on, their connection deepened. So when both owls were finally deemed ready for release, the team made a heartfelt decision: they would return them to the wild together.
At sunset, near the female’s original territory, the two were set free side by side. After release, they called out to one another before flying off to begin their new chapter.
For REGI and everyone involved in their rescue — including the concerned citizens and responding officers — the moment felt almost storybook-perfect: an orphaned young owl and a grieving mother finding comfort in each other.
As they disappeared into the fading light, their second chance was just beginning.
“We wish them a long and happy life,” REGI shared.