Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre

Heart-warming moment a barn owl returned to the wild

A video captures the heart-warming moment a barn owl which was rescued by the RSPCA following a road traffic accident is released back into the wild.

A family who live nearby saw the owl get hit by a motorbike at the side of Shenholme, in Chelmorton, near Buxton and the poor bird bounced into some nearby bushes. 

They ran towards where the accident happened and found the bird of prey was dazed and unable to fly. There was also some blood above one of his eyes,

The family were able to encourage the owl into a dog crate and they took him to their nearby home and alerted the RSPCA.

Inspector Nichola Waterworth was sent to collect the injured bird, following the incident on March 24, and he was taken to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, for veterinary treatment.

Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, said: “This was a very fortunate owl as usually in road traffic collisions more damage is incurred.  

“The owl most likely was stunned but he did have an eye trauma so he was treated for that and given pain relief. 

“He was then transferred into one of our larger aviaries until he was fully recovered from his ordeal and was ready to be released back into the wild.”

Nichola said: “It is always a great part of the work we do to release an injured animal back into the wild after it has been rescued and recovered in RSPCA care. It is a proud moment for the whole team involved and a privilege to watch so I was pleased to catch the moment on video.

“I am so grateful to the couple who spotted what had happened and went to help the owl and then called us - they did a great job in saving him.”

If you find a wild animal in distress, stuck, sick or injured please contact the RSPCA for advice on 0300 1234 999 and visit https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals

To support the ongoing work of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre during this extremely difficult time, please donate to their Justgiving site: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RSPCAStapeleyGrangeWildlife?success=true

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.

A video of the release can be downloaded here: 

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/fNaCGZMxez/dXMtNjk1OGVmZTktYWY4ZS00ZGQzLTgwZDMtNmM5ZjFmOWM3NDB