RIP to the Photographer

Angry yellow eyes on this Great Horned Owl are accentuated by the V-shape of his brow stretching from the tips of his plumicorns to his nostrils. He's burrito-wrapped in a vanilla towel, held by a rehabilitator with blue gloves. The towel covers the tip of his beak, and lifts a tuft of feathers to the back. It cannot be overstated how mad he looks.

Original post – 27 Dec 2025
by Congress of the Birds
located in Providence, Rhode Island US
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original text:

Wildlife rehab work never stops. On Christmas Day, we admitted this very angry Great Horned Owl who became entangled in a backyard soccer net—likely while hunting. The homeowners did exactly the right thing by calling us and waiting for our team to arrive before attempting to free him.

Thankfully, there are no fractures, but he has significant soft-tissue swelling from struggling to escape and is understandably very sore. He’ll be with us for the next few weeks on anti-inflammatory medication, with his wing wrapped as it heals. Once the swelling resolves, he’ll begin flight conditioning as he works his way back to release.

Lighting has a dramatic effect on the GHOW's appearance. His pupils are much smaller, contracted in the brighter setting, and his expression far calmer compared to the previous photo, despite being fundamentally the same. Make no mistake, he's still plotting murder. He's not wearing a towel here, and we see the yellow mesh of the soccer net that got him into this situation wrapped around his left wing.
The incident in question. The goal frame is on its side amid piles of autumn leaves before a white paling fence. The GHOW stares violently at the camera as the rescuer holds him by the legs. His wing and back feathers are ensnared in the strands of green-yellow mesh that has been cut free from the main net. He does not look remotely thankful.

Sports nets left up outdoors are a serious and often overlooked hazard for wildlife. Birds of prey, songbirds, and even mammals can become entangled—sometimes fatally—especially during nighttime hunting flights. Taking nets down when not in use can prevent these injuries.

Link to donate to Congress of the Birds for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat Horned OwlWiki link

categories:

, , ,

date:

random