His wings were too damaged to fly 💔
As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, many people and animals have been left injured and homeless. Yet, amidst the devastation, moments of hope still emerge.
Joanne, a resident of Altadena, California, faced the heartbreaking loss of her family’s home to the flames. When she and her partner, Lauren, returned to their neighborhood, the scale of destruction was overwhelming. It seemed as though nothing had survived. Well, almost nothing.
Amid the charred remains, they noticed a small, wide-eyed creature — an owl. Initially puzzled, the couple wondered why the bird was perched among the ruins. Then it became clear: the owl couldn’t fly.
“He needs help,” Lauren shared in a TikTok video. “He’s hurt.” Upon closer examination, they discovered that his wings had been scorched by the fire.
“You’ve got golf ball-sized embers flying at nearly 90 miles per hour,” Lauren explained to The Dodo. “One must have hit his wing and burned it badly.”
Despite their own challenges, Lauren and Joanne decided to help the injured bird. As soon as they picked him up, he seemed to trust them. “Once we caught him, it was like he knew we were there to help,” Lauren said. “He just calmed down and let us care for him.”
Thankfully, the damage wasn’t too severe. Only the owl’s feathers had been burned, sparing him from more serious harm. The couple transported him to a nearby wildlife rescue center, where he’ll remain until he’s healthy enough to return to the wild.
“He’s recovering well,” Lauren reported.
Soon, the smoke will clear, the owl’s feathers will regrow, and he’ll take to the skies once more.