Injured owl returns to wild after months of rehabilitation in California

A young great horned owl has been released back into the wild after recovering from an attack in Southern California, ABC7 Chicago reported. The bird underwent several months of medical treatment and rehabilitation before it was healthy enough to return to its natural environment. [1]

According to the Ojai Raptor Center, the owl was brought to their rehabilitation facility in April after a bystander intervened during an assault. A person rescued the young owlet from a group of teenagers who were seen beating the animal with a baseball bat. Staff at the facility designated the bird as Patient 26-224. [1]

The Ojai Raptor Center reported that the young owl suffered significant physical injuries from the beating. Upon arrival at the facility, medical examinations showed that the bird had sustained internal trauma. It also suffered a closed fracture of the metatarsus, which involved a broken or cracked bone in its foot. [1]

After receiving months of care and physical rehabilitation from staff members at the wildlife rescue facility, the owl recovered from its injuries. ABC7 Chicago reported that the fully healed bird was subsequently released back into the wild. [1]