Current:Home > InvestOwen the Owl was stranded in the middle the road. A Georgia police officer rescued him. -WealthMindset Learning
Owen the Owl was stranded in the middle the road. A Georgia police officer rescued him.
View
Date:2025-04-13 07:47:41
An owl in Georgia may owe its life to a compassionate police officer who quickly took action after spotting him sitting in the middle of the road.
Sergeant Chad West of the Milton Police Department was driving up Highway 9 when he spotted "Owen the Owl" sitting in the road on Dec. 22. West turned his car around and rescued the owl to prevent further harm.
Luckily for the owl, one of West's colleagues, Officer Charles Fannon, was on duty. Fannon had some experience with owls and quickly determined that Owen was likely hit by a car.
The officers reached out to the local Veterinary Emergency Group which took him in for the night and made sure he was OK. Owen was then taken in by the wildlife rehabilitation group, HawkTalk, Inc., who continued to care for him.
Less than a week later and Owen was all better and ready to go home.
"We love a happy ending!" Milton Police said in a Facebook post.
West and Fannon joined HawkTalk's Monteen McCord to release him back to his home along Highway 9 near Stonecreek Church.
A video of Owen's release showed a group of very excited kids rushing up and asking to pet the owl before the creature was freed.
The kids, amazed at how "soft" Owen's feathers were, got a little lesson on why that is. One of the officers can be heard telling them the bird is so soft because owls have to be "silent" when they fly.
Owls in the U.S. face several threats
In the U.S., there are 19 varying species of owls in all different shapes and sizes, according to the American Bird Conservancy. These creatures face several threats including habitat loss, pesticides, and vehicle collisions, which have already resulted in a decline of a third of all the owl species in the country.
However, not all species of owls are in decline. In forests across the West Coast, biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have said that barred owls have been crowding out spotted owls. The barred owls are not native to the region, and experts said they're concerned that the spotted owl could disappear from parts of Washington and Oregon if they don't do anything about it.
So, they've recently proposed a plan to shoot hundreds of thousands of barred owls over the next 30 years, as a way to help the spotted owl population grow.
veryGood! (9691)
Related
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Wife Lauren Sorrentino Welcome Baby No. 3
- NFL mock draft: Broncos, Eagles aim to fill holes left by Russell Wilson, Jason Kelce
- 17-year-old boy dies after going missing during swimming drills in the Gulf of Mexico
- USA men's volleyball mourns chance at gold after losing 5-set thriller, will go for bronze
- Investigators say they confirmed pilots’ account of a rudder-control failure on a Boeing Max jet
- Trump ordered to pay legal fees after failed lawsuit over ‘shocking and scandalous’ Steele dossier
- Customers blast Five Guys prices after receipt goes viral. Here's how much items cost.
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- New York City FC CEO Brad Sims shares plans, construction timeline for new stadium
Ranking
- Plunge Into These Olympic Artistic Swimmers’ Hair and Makeup Secrets
- Letting go of a balloon could soon be illegal in Florida: Balloon release bans explained
- Stolen Oscars: The unbelievable true stories behind these infamous trophy heists
- Mason Disick Proves He Can Keep Up With His Stylish Family in New Fit Check
- Meet 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao, the youngest Olympian competing in Paris
- Additional child neglect charges filed against the mother of a missing Wisconsin boy
- 'The shooter didn't snap': Prosecutors say Michigan dad could have prevented mass killing
- Kate Middleton's Uncle Speaks to Her Health Journey While on Celebrity Big Brother
Recommendation
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Jake Paul fight against Mike Tyson is announced for July 20 and will be streamed live on Netflix
Zac Efron and John Cena on their 'very natural' friendship, new comedy 'Ricky Stanicky'
Platform Mini Boots Are Your Perfect Shoe for In-Between Weather: From UGG to $27 Finds
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Horoscopes Today, March 6, 2024
Starbucks launches spring menu, including 2 new iced lavender drinks
Investigators say tenant garage below collapsed Florida condo tower had many faulty support columns