this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
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Superbowl

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For owls that are superb.

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US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

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If you find an injured owl:

Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.

Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.

Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.

If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

"Excuse me, I found this, but it doesn't have a sticker... Will you take $15?"

I always worry when they just toss the animals back into nature instead of calling a rehabber first. Without knowing how long it's been stuck inside, they don't know if it's dehydrated or injured, so it might not be able to properly hunt or protect itself.

It's an adult, and a person shouldn't ever really be able to lay hands on a healthy wild owl.

If you ever find an animal, a call to your local rehab can tell you what to do to ensure the best chance of the animal's safety and success.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It says the owners called and the Environmental Conservation officers took it to the woodlands. I would think they'd examine it on the way.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have nothing bad to say about state wildlife employees, but their mission is not necessarily always the same as that of a rehab clinic.

They play a role in certifying and regulating what we do at a rehab, but from my understanding they are there to see nature take its course while not having negative impacts to the citizens of the state. Rehabbers are here to save every animal possible.

This causes some people to find us anywhere from harmless to annoying to seeing us as interfering with nature. It's personal and political like any other matter once you dig down enough. But a rehab's job is to save every animal life that we legally can, and I think that difference is significant in certain scenarios.

Maybe the best comparison I can give is how a city pound or SPCA will help rehome some animals vs a no-kill cat or dog specific rescue that will try to save every animal they take. They're not bad, they're still helping, but they have a different mission.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Good clarifying point, thanks!

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Of course! It's not something most of us need to know on a regular basis and it can get confusing over which group handles what aspects of animal care. For instance rehabs would normally be able to treat waterfowl, but avian influenza is so bad now, we aren't allowed to have any on site, so those cases are all handled by the state until we hear otherwise.

[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Still life scene

[–] riskable@programming.dev 8 points 1 month ago

He doesn't seem that old!

[–] teft@piefed.social 7 points 1 month ago

The Northern Antique Owl has amazing plumage. Just shows you how well camouflage can work.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 6 points 1 month ago

Good to see they’re back in stock

[–] ProfThadBach@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

I want that cookie jar

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Woodsy the Owl says, "Give a Hoot Don't Pollute!"