Injured owl released after month-long rehab
By Ryan Richardson, Owensboro Times
A month ago, a Great Horned Owl was a few hours away from dying when it was found along a walking trail at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. It was released Friday afternoon after nearly four weeks of rehabilitation, soaring at full strength with wings spread wide as it returned home.
The owl was found by an employee on the grounds of the hospital, which is an Audubon Area Sanctuary. Landscaping supervisor Tim O’Bryan contacted Western Kentucky Raptor Rehab Center, and they came to retrieve the owl.
“At first we thought something might be broken, but nothing was broken,” said Kristin Allen, who runs the Rehab Center. “He was super thin. We treated him for some parasites and he started eating on his own. He wasn’t flying and then one day he just took off. It was beautiful.”
Grant Allen, Kristin’s son, was the one who captured the bird. He was also the one to release the owl back into the wild.
“The flight was beautiful,” Grant said. “Probably one of the best flights I’ve seen out of a Great Horned Owl.”