From Pocono Wildlife Rehab Center
Earlier this evening, we received the tiniest little visitor - a Great Horned Owl nestling, estimated to be under two weeks old. At this age, he should still be tucked safely beneath his mother's wings, relying completely on his parents for warmth, protection, and food.
The finders had a general idea of where the nest was located, so we immediately reached out to someone experienced in renesting raptors. Renesting is always our first goal, nothing replaces being raised by wild parents.
After many hours in the cold, climbing tree after tree, John discovered two possible nests. One was empty. The other, heartbreakingly, held only the remains of his nest mates.
A huge shoutout to John Ackourey who spent hours in very cold temperatures doing everything possible to reunite this baby with his family. Wildlife work isn't glamorous, it's cold hands, scraped bark, and climbing higher when your arms are already tired, all for the chance at giving one small life back its wild beginning.
Unfortunately, renesting was not an option.
So now, this little one begins a different journey. He will be raised at our facility with careful attention to proper diet, minimal handling and interaction to prevent human imprinting, and species-appropriate development. Our goal remains the same, to give him every opportunity to grow strong, learn what it means to be an owl, and one day return to the wild where he belongs. Tonight, he rests warm and safe.
Sometimes rescue means reunification. Sometimes it means becoming the bridge between tragedy and a second chance.
Either way, we show up.
The young man who found him/her in his yard named him/her Jerry.
Poor Jerry. I hope he does well!
Jerry should be in great hands!
This rescue is the next closest one to me. The owner is very passionate (sometimes scarily so!) and I've thought about volunteering there since they seem to get way more owls than we do. It's much less built up around there, so that makes sense. I haven't met any of them yet, but they seem like a great group.
Sounds like a good place to get more experience!