Owl Dad Fosters a Tiny Owlet and Total Cuteness Ensues

Located on Long Island, Sweetbriar Nature Center rescues wildlife in need and rehabilitates animals so they can eventually be released back into the wild. One Screech Owl named Newton, however, imprinted on the humans who cared for him as a baby, meaning he'll always call the rescue home.

That doesn't mean he's forgotten his owl instincts, though. Newton spent much of the winter building himself a cozy nursery inside a shopping bag, hoping to attract a mate and raise a family. So when the rescue took in a tiny Screech Owlet in need of care, staff knew Newton would be the perfect foster dad. Sure enough, he stepped right into the role, and the heartwarming footage of the pair's growing bond has viewers completely smitten.

@sweetbriarnaturecenter

If you've been following us, you know that all winter long Newton has been busy building himself a cozy nursery inside a shopping bag, hoping to attract a mate and raise a family. Since Newton is imprinted on humans, his romantic interests have unfortunately been directed toward the staff at our wildlife hospital! Luckily, we were able to make Newton's dream a reality-at least in a way. This tiny Eastern Screech Owl owlet was found alone on a homeowner's property with no nest in sight. The homeowner also had hunting dogs and was unable to keep them restrained. Since the dogs had already discovered the baby, we felt the safest option was to admit the owlet to our wildlife rehabilitation hospital rather than risk returning it to an unsafe situation. Making the decision to remove a young wild animal from its environment is never easy, but in this case the owlet was not yet flighted and was especially vulnerable. Here at the hospital, Newton has happily stepped into the role of foster parent, providing companionship and species-appropriate behavior while this youngster grows and develops. With time, proper care, and plenty of lessons in being an owl, this little one will learn to fly, hunt, and eventually be released back into the wild where it belongs. Stay tuned as we follow this owlet's journey from fluffy youngster to skilled nighttime hunter! Stages of development for Eastern Screech Owls: 1. Hatchling (0–2 weeks) – Covered in white down, eyes closed at first, completely dependent on parents. 2. Nestling (2–4 weeks) – Eyes open, feathers begin developing, more active but remains in the nest. 3. Branching/Fledgling (4–6 weeks) – Leaves the nest before it can fly well, climbs branches, practices wing-flapping and short hops. 4. Early Fledgling (6–8 weeks) – Gains stronger flight skills and begins following parents. 5. Juvenile (8–12 weeks) – Learns hunting techniques and becomes increasingly independent. 6. Independent Juvenile (10–12+ weeks) – Hunts successfully on its own and no longer relies on parental care.

original sound - Sweetbriar

Sweetbriar's video stole everybody's hearts and has more than a million views, with many of us waiting for an owl update and to find out what they decided to call the baby. We haven't seen one yet, but we look forward to hearing more about their story!

Related: Disheveled Mama Owl Feeding Her Owlets Is Every Tired Mom

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The Internet Is Melting Over This Foster Owl Family

Sweetbriar shared more about Newton and his tiny foster baby in the caption. After a homeowner discovered the owlet alone in their yard with no nest in sight, they called the rescue for help. Because the homeowner had hunting dogs who had already found the youngster, staff determined that bringing the owlet into care was the safest option rather than returning it to a potentially dangerous situation.

The rescue explained that the baby was not yet capable of flight and was especially vulnerable. "Newton has happily stepped into the role of foster parent, providing companionship and species-appropriate behavior while this youngster grows and develops."

With time, proper care, and plenty of lessons in how to be an owl, the little one will learn to fly, hunt, and eventually be released back into the wild where he belongs. We can't wait to watch the progress!

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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 9:45 PM.