After getting hit by a truck, this great horned owl has been rehabilitated and released back into the wild | 24CA News

An owl hit by a truck final winter has been rehabilitated and launched again into the wild, a lot to the joy of those that rescued her. 

Matt Pistell was driving about 25 kilometres north of 100 Mile House in B.C.’s Interior one darkish evening when a big owl flew proper into his windshield. 

He obtained out to see if it had survived. It wasn’t wanting good, so he tried to maneuver it off the highway. But as he did, the chicken regained consciousness. 

In a panic, Pistell referred to as his mother, who informed him to name Uncle Murray — a volunteer with OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, based mostly in Delta, B.C.

“It spent the night in my kitchen, which was pretty cool,” Murray Zelt informed Radio West host Sarah Penton. “Having an owl in your kitchen, it’s not an everyday thing.”

The chicken was transported by a program the society runs, the place truckers assist transfer injured animals to their Delta facility.

OWL supervisor Rob Hope stated when the chicken arrived, Lucky — as she’s now identified — had a concussion, injury to her proper eye, and accidents to her left leg. He added Lucky’s marking recommended she was a totally grown grownup, at the least two years previous. 

“It’s always a concern at the beginning,” Hope stated. “Anytime they’re hurt, we never know what can happen.”

Zelt stated he by no means stopped desirous about the owl, calling the rehabilitation facility each couple of weeks to verify on Lucky’s progress. 

Finally, after a number of months of creating certain she might fly, hunt and perch, Lucky was able to be launched.

But first she was relocated to the Interior, as soon as once more with the assistance of a trucker.

The following day, Zelt, Pistell, and a few of their household went to launch the owl. 

“I actually … teared up,” stated Zelt, who had already scouted out areas that will be secure and acceptable for Lucky, in hopes of her recovering.

“It’s an area that I’m familiar with for photography. It’s rolling meadows, it’s got a creek running through it. It’s picturesque. It’s just beautiful.”

As the kennel gate opened, Zelt stated Lucky “bolted.”

To catch yet one more glimpse of the owl he had come to take care of, Zelt stated he went for a hike within the space, trying to find her perched on a department. 

“I thought, well, the only thing I can do is give out a poor man’s couple great horned owl hoots,” he stated with fun.

“Two or three hoots from me and nothing. I’m just about to give up, and she flew from about 100 yards away towards me on a diagonal.

“The solar within the morning solar was on her and he or she was nearly angelic. She was all lit up with golden mild. It was like a storybook.”