She expertly camouflaged herself in the muddy water 😳
Upon receiving a report about an animal in distress near Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, a sergeant from the Pennsylvania Game Commission rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, he discovered a stunning creature struggling near the lake’s edge.
The concerned officer took a photo of the animal and promptly reached out to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center for guidance. The staff instructed him to bring the bird to the center for assistance.
The injured bird turned out to be a great horned owl, and rehabilitators suspect she had accidentally collided with the cement wall surrounding Children’s Lake. Both of her wings were injured, and she appeared exhausted and slightly odorous from her struggles in the murky water.
At the wildlife center, the owl received treatment for her injuries, fluids to aid her recovery, and ample time to recuperate. Despite her initial resistance to her rescuers, her spirited demeanor indicated that she was on the path to readiness for release into the wild. The feisty owl was later transferred to an outdoor flight enclosure, where staff members were delighted to observe her flying effortlessly.
“Once she started eating on her own again, and [her] wings [were] healing, it was like the fast track for her,” remarked wildlife rehabilitator Tracie Young.
Upon reaching full recovery, the owl was set free in a nearby area characterized by expansive open fields and abundant trees — an ideal environment for her to flourish.
Returned to her natural habitat, the owl gracefully spread her wings and soared off into the wilderness.
For Young, the joy of witnessing a release is unparalleled.
“With each animal, especially the birds of prey and owls, every release feels like a collective sigh of relief when you see them soar into the sky,” Young shared. “It’s a second chance at freedom, and it’s a moment of pure liberation for them.”