Ever Seen a Wet Owl?

A very close-up portrait of a Great Horned Owl wrapped in a white towel. His feathers are wet, plastered together across his chest and radiating outward from his head in little spiky clumps. The wet feathers emphasise - rather cartoonishly - the true size of his yellow eyes. It's actually astounding how much volume these eyes take up in that little skull of his.

17th of Owltober!

Rather unfortunate how this Great Horned Owl got into this situation, but the pictures are too good not to share 🧼🛁

Original post – 22 Mar 2025

by Wild Heart Ranch

located in Foyil, Oklahoma

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Original text:

Owls weren’t meant to have baths, but we have no choice when they’ve been submerged in petroleum. Hopefully this is his last one.

Link to donate to Wild Heart Ranch for those willing and able.

Pairs of hands from the wildlife rehabilitators appear bottom of frame holding and actively washing the owl in a basin. The owl is hunched over, sopping wet, with his feathers clumped and dripping giving a soapy shine to the patterns of his brown and black plumage. A large yellow eye is visible, and he's looking almost sullen or subdued from the process. He has no chin, just a beak and a few straggly wet feathers beneath. A dry brown towel is draped in the background.
A full-body shot shows the wet owl upright in a basin, held by a rehabber with a lizard tattoo on their forearm. The owl's legs and feet are protected by layers of blue tape or plaster. His wings and tail feathers are matted with water. His plumicorns too are soaked, drooping to each side of his head. His body is in profile view, while his head is rotated front-on as he looks at the camera. He looks reasonably calm here, all considered. The next photo, not so much.
The owl is being held in a white towel, with only his head exposed. His feet, wrapped in blue material, poke outwards to the left of the towel. His large yellow eyes are wide open, partially obscured by his angry brow. His plumicorn/ear tufts are now upright and prominent, accentuating an intense expression as he looks directly at the camera. He looks one hundred percent ready to murder someone.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat Horned OwlWiki link

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