From Raven Ridge Wildlife Center

We are profoundly inspired by the selfless actions of individuals who step up to help animals in need. Recently, on May 6th, we received a call from Jim, who witnessed a great horned owl stranded in the middle of a busy road. It was heartbreaking to see cars speeding by while the owl remained helpless and endangered. Alarmed by this alarming scene, Jim immediately turned his car around and activated his hazard lights to offer assistance. Tragically, another vehicle maneuvered around him and carelessly drove over the owl, leaving Jim horrified at the thought of this magnificent creature being harmed.

Driven by compassion and quick thinking, Jim reached for a towel in his car. Recognizing the urgency of the situation and knowing there was no safe way to contain the owl, he gently placed it in his trunk, creating a dark and quiet refuge that ensured the safety of both the owl and himself. The very next morning, he made his way to our facility, with the owl peacefully secured in his trunk.

We are overjoyed to share the remarkable release of this owl, which would have certainly faced a grim fate without Jim and his wife’s decisive action. It was a privilege to have them both present for the release back home, far from the dangers of the road. Their extraordinary kindness not only gave this beautiful owl a second chance at life but also serves as a powerful reminder of how a single act of compassion can make a world of difference.

        • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
          5·
          4 days ago

          Nobody does wing:body ratio like an owl!

          You can see here it’s noticeably larger than the fairly similar sized Red Tailed Hawk, and while the Bald Eagle is 3x more massive, it is not 3x greater in wingspan. More wing=more stealth potential! (and that much more owl to love!)

            • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
              4·
              4 days ago

              I saw some of those condors up close at the National Aviary, and they were mindblowing!

              Somewhat related, they had this bite force station at the local aquarium. It was this about waist-height board you were supposed to press on as hard as you can. I’m assuming it was designed for children, and not grown idiots like myself. It listed some animals like a Great White and a Tiger and Hippo and Crocodile and how high their bite force was in PSI like one of those swing the hammer, ring the bell games at a fair.

              Now, I am not a person of small stature, so I wanted to see how high I could press this meter. I did get it pretty darn high after finding a good bracing on the flooring, but trying to squeeze that last effort out, I felt my anatomy start to move and I was so shocked I wasn’t hurt. I swore that I had just given myself a hernia, but thankfully had not. I do remember feeling rather impressed with myself overall, but I should probably avoid doing that again outside of an emergency! 🤪