Screech Owl Found On Route 28 Returned to the Wild

Back on August 26th, Wild Mountain Birds, a Wildlife Sanctuary out of Rosendale, New York, shared a video of an owl they took in who had been injured. The little Eastern Screech Owl had been spotted on Route 28 by a NYS-DEP officer in pretty bad shape.

Screech Owl Saved from Route 28 Near Phoenicia, New York

The tiny little owl was in rough shape. According to the post, it was a late-season juvenile owl that still had what they called fluff and pin feathers still growing. When it was found, it was obvious that it had sustained injuries. Route 28, being a very busy road, anything could have been the cause.

It was noted that the little owl had head trauma, a swollen right eye, a crack in the beak, and other injuries that might be broken bones. Even with all these injuries, Wild Mountain Birds felt there was a good chance that the little owl would eventually be released back to the woods of the Hudson Valley.

Fast forward to this week, less than a month later, and the little owl and the officer who rescued it were reunited for the owl's release. DEP Officer Detective Mattson had the honor of releasing the little owl back to the area around the watershed near where it was discovered last month.

Rehabbed Owl Released Back to the Wild By New York State DEP Officer

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This little owl was fortunate to be found and then rehabbed back to health. We have many animal rehabilitators in the Hudson Valley who do this good work for our wildlife year-round. If you ever encounter a member of the wildlife community in distress, it is always best to let the professional intervene.

Contacting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is suggested. You can also check the NYS DEC website for a list of local rehabbers who can help.