From Raptor Rehab of Northern Kentucky
Another weird rescue!
Meet BARR 24-14. We were contacted early last week about an owl stuck in a chimney. The chimney was not capped off and had not been used in many years.
We instructed the finder to open the flue and hoped the bird would come out. One of our volunteers went to the location to help multiple times with no luck. The finder put out a bowl of water and also food for the owl if he came down.
Sure enough, the owl would sneak down into the firebox at night, grab food, and then fly back upward into the chimney.
Finally on Sunday, two of our volunteers went back to the home and after a long period of time, were able to get the bird out.
This owl is very lucky and has no major injuries. Our crew was able to get some soot off of the bird and treat mild dehydration. He will be ready for release later this week and be re-joined with his mate who has been calling for him.
Moral of the story: Make sure your chimneys are capped off so wildlife cannot get stuck inside!
Good as new and ready to go home!
What a dapper fellow.
I find it interesting that they’d go down for the water and food but then sneak back up.
Had to deal with an owl stuck in a chimney once, got a bit of advice from a chimney sweep: "Bash against the chimney to make as much noise as possible, that usually gets them to leave". Went ahead and tried it, gave the chimney a good bashing, out went the (albeit a bit soot stained) owl, sat on the rim of chimney for a bit, giving off intense stares of disapproval, and finally flew off.
lol. of course there's stares of dissaproval. how would you like being woken up from a good, sound sleep?
It knows it can't get eaten up in there!