Nocturnal baby hunter falls from tree before it’s ready, rescuers say. But there’s a plan

While working on a house in Cheektowaga, New York, on July 16, someone noticed a baby screech owl sitting on the driveway. The infant was alive but not moving, WGRZ reported.

After a call from the homeowner, wildlife rescuers rushed over to assess the situation.

“Our wildlife team suspects that the little owl fell from its nest too soon,” SPCA Serving Erie County said in an announcement about the incident.

Screech owls are nocturnal birds named for their “whinnies and soft trills.” They are talented hunters and feed mostly on insects and rodents.

As babies, screech owls live with their parents until they are four weeks old, but still rely on their parents for food for some time after, according to the National Audubon Society. Judging from the size of the fallen baby, the wildlife team suspected it was too early in its life for it to be out on its own.

“Although the owl seems unharmed, it’s still too young to return to its natural habitat,” the organization said.

At the same time, another wildlife care group, Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center, happened to be caring for baby owls about the same age as this one. The care they already have in place fits what this little one needs.

The Cheektowaga owlet will be going into their care soon, according to SPCA Serving Erie County. Then, when it’s old enough, they will return it to the wild.

This story was originally published July 19, 2024 at 5:23 PM.