Minnesota Woman Rescues Snowy Owl from Car Grille After Saving Another Bird

Annabell Whelan had a tense start to her Tuesday morning as she checked on Nowl, a snowy owl she had rescued the previous day. The owl had become trapped in the grille of a car after a collision. Whelan, who was with her boyfriend's family in Duluth, Minnesota, took action when the animal rescue organisation was unavailable.

Earlier on Monday, Whelan had already encountered another injured bird, a great gray owl, in Two Harbors, Minnesota. With guidance from Wildwoods, a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Duluth, she managed to safely capture the owl. "I definitely thought that I had had my fix of owls with the first one," said Whelan, who works at Lake Superior Zoo and holds a degree in biology and environmental science.

Wildlife Rescue Efforts

Whelan noticed the great gray owl was struggling with an eye injury. She spent time calmly talking to it before wrapping it in a blanket and placing it in a dog crate for transport. The owl was then taken to Wildwoods and later sent to the University of Minnesota's Raptor Centre in St. Paul for further care.

The situation with Nowl was more severe. "It was obviously a lot more trauma," Whelan explained. With Wildwoods closed for the night, she kept Nowl safe at home, away from her pets. She named the owl Nowl as a nod to "noel." Despite fearing the worst overnight, Whelan was relieved to find Nowl alive and moving the next morning.

Advice for Animal Encounters

After examining Nowl, Wildwoods shared on Facebook that the owl was "quite beaten up." They applied a wing wrap and administered medication before coordinating her transfer to The Raptor Centre. The rescue organisation advises people to slow down and stay alert when encountering injured animals.

They recommend calling for help and moving animals to quiet spaces until professionals arrive. Animals are often scared of humans and need to be left alone until they can receive proper care.

Whelan's actions highlight the importance of quick thinking and compassion in wildlife rescue efforts. Her dedication ensured that both owls received the necessary attention and care from experts.