Last month, a baby owl almost lost its life after falling from its nest, which was in terrible condition.
Despite the scare, his life was saved thanks to the rescue team at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, however, his brother had stayed there.
Fortunately, despite the fall, the little owl was not injured.
She was taken to the rescue center, where she underwent examinations, was fed and received all necessary care.
A baby owl almost lost its life after falling from its nest, which was in terrible condition. (Photo: WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER/DUPAGE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVATION DISTRICT)
According to Sarah Reich, chief veterinarian and manager at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, cases of baby owls falling out of their nests are more common than you might think.
This is especially due to the precarious and inadequate conditions of the nests.
Great owls do not build their own nests – instead, they reuse nests abandoned by other animals, which are often not very sturdy.
In addition, owls also make use of cavities in the ground, such as small mammal burrows, or find refuge in hollow trees.
In some situations, they even dig their own depressions in the ground to house their eggs and young, as explained by Mundo Educação.
Fortunately, the cub was rescued by staff at Willowbrook Wildlife Center. (Photo: WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER/DUPAGE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVATION DISTRICT)
When it’s time to breed, female owls usually lay two to three eggs, spaced every few days.
During this time, the male plays a crucial role in ensuring that the female is fed and protected.
After hatching, the female takes over the initial care of the young, providing heat and food, while the male continues to provide resources for the family.
After all the care, the baby owlet was clearly feeling better.
With this, she could simply be returned by the team to the precarious nest, but they knew that this would leave her in danger.
Furthermore, keeping her at the rescue center was also not ideal, as the team knew the importance of owls being raised by other owls, so they didn’t want the baby to get used to humans.
As the nest was precarious, the team created a new structure so that the owl family could stay safe. (Photo: WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER/DUPAGE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVATION DISTRICT)
“We always tell people mom does it best,” Reich told The Dodo.
To solve the problem, without harming the owlet in any way, the team at Willowbrook Wildlife built a secure wooden platform for a brand new nest.
And the best part is that the new house could house not only the rescued owl, but her entire family, who could enjoy the adequate and safe space.
Thinking about every detail, to make the new nest as cozy and inviting as possible, the team filled it with straw and even some mice for the family to snack on.
The little owl was returned to its home, now safe. (Photo: WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER/DUPAGE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVATION DISTRICT)
The result was a real success and worked as they imagined. However, this isn’t the first time the center has built a new nest for great owls; they have already built many similar platforms for other families.
“We get a lot of reports years later where people say animals come back to these platforms year after year to nest,” Reich said.
Once ready, the baby owls were gathered and placed in the nest. According to the team, in a short time, the entire family was settled in their new home. Now, thanks to this wonderful work, the little owls will be able to grow safely and without worrying about falling again. Ufa!
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