Original post – 11 Oct 2024
by Ojai Raptor Center

located in Oak View, California, US 🇺🇸
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Original text:

It’s hard to believe, but the unfortunate predicament that Great Horned Owl patient 24-680 found itself in is not as rare as one might think. This owl was rescued after becoming lodged in the grill of a vehicle. Remarkably, we receive about one of these cases a year, and many of the raptors we’ve treated have survived this traumatic ordeal. Despite the severity of the accident, 24-680 is expected to make a full recovery, even after suffering a broken fibula.

Link to donate to Ojai Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 19 Nov 2020
by Ojai Raptor Center

located in Oak View, California, US 🇺🇸
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

Burrowing Owls are listed as a species of special concern in California and endangered in other parts of their range. Their decline is mostly due to loss of habitat but pesticides (both insecticides and rodenticides) are also to blame. The use of these poisons not only decimate a large portion of insects that these owls rely on for food, but rodenticides also reduce the number of natural excavators that create the ground burrows they nest in, like ground squirrels.

Burrowing Owls are known as partial migrants here in California and will move about the State to their breeding grounds where they nest in colonies. ORC typically receives just a few Burrowing Owl patients a year during these migrations, but some years we’ve received only one or none at all. We have seen an increase of annual intakes over the past 3 years and this Fall we’ve received 4 since September! While sadly not all of them made it, we hope this is a good sign for the species as conservation efforts are underway.

The patient pictured has undergone 3 surgeries to repair extensive damage to the soft tissue of the left wing after the owl was entangled in barbed wire. Luckily his/her prognosis is looking good for recovery and release!

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Patient Update: Burrowing Owl vs. Barbs

This Burrowing Owl (BUOW) that was admitted for barbed wire injuries is now all healed up after weeks of treatment!

Link to donate to Ojai Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center sent pics of these gorgeous Great Horned Owl patients, referring to them as their “problem children”.

Aren’t they great?

Sent in 20 Oct 2025 by WWCC
located in Huntingdon Beach, California
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Link to donate to Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

23rd of Owltober!

Original post – Sep 2019
by Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
located in Saratoga, California
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original text:

We are currently caring for a Great Horned Owl that became entangled in netting at a soccer field in Woodside. He sustained wounds on his right foot and lower leg. The owl will need more surgery on his foot and leg as part of his ongoing treatment before he is fully healed and can be returned to the wild.

Note: the image data indicates this was posted in September 2019 but the following advice is just as apt this time of year🕸️:

As you prepare to decorate for Halloween, please consider not using fake spider webs since animals, especially birds, can become caught in them.

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Link to donate to Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

15th of Owltober!

Originally posted 11 Dec 2020
by Ojai Raptor Center

located in Oak View, California, US 🇺🇸
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Original text:

This Burrowing Owl (BUOW) that was admitted for barbed wire injuries is now all healed up after weeks of treatment! This past month, we received a few other patients that were also injured by barbed wire, and sadly, most of them were not as lucky as this BUOW. On Sunday, we moved him/her into an outdoor enclosure where he/she can move and fly around freely. We have high hopes that this owl will be able to be released back into the wild after being given more outdoor flight time!

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Link to donate to Ojai Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 09 Feb 2025
by Ojai Raptor Center

located in Oak View, California, US 🇺🇸
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

🦉 Patient Spotlight: Great Horned Owl 25-34 🦉

This majestic Great Horned Owl was brought to Ojai Raptor Center after colliding with a building window—an all-too-common hazard for birds navigating our human-built environments. The owl suffered head trauma, feather damage, and a serious wound on its right wing that required surgical closure. Thanks to our dedicated team, this owl is recovering well and has a hopeful prognosis for release back into the wild!

Glass collisions are one of the leading causes of bird mortality in the U.S., killing an estimated 365 million to 1 billion birds annually. Despite their size and strength, owls like the Great Horned Owl are particularly vulnerable. Their silent flight and laser focus while hunting at night make it difficult to detect glass surfaces, especially when reflections mimic open skies or wooded areas. As they swoop low in pursuit of prey or move between perches, shiny windows and glass buildings become invisible threats.

Great Horned Owls are powerful, skilled hunters, but even they can’t outmaneuver obstacles they can’t see. When collisions happen, the injuries can be severe—ranging from concussions and internal bleeding to fractured wings and damaged eyes. Without immediate care, many owls can’t survive in the wild, even if they appear to fly off after impact.

How You Can Help Protect Birds:

✨ Create patterns on reflective glass

✨ Install external insect screens on windows to cushion impacts.

✨ Turn off unnecessary lights at night

✨ Move interior plants away from windows to reduce visual confusion.

✨ Place feeders directly on windows to reduce high-speed collisions.

If a bird strikes your window, they may only seem stunned but often suffer hidden injuries like concussions or fractures. If you witness a bird striking a building, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator immediately.

With your help, we can make our environments safer for all birds and give them a fighting chance to thrive in the wild. Stay tuned for updates on Patient 25-34’s recovery—and its journey back to the skies! 🦉

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Link to donate to Ojai Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

It takes two rehabilitation staff to wrap this Great Horned Owl. The person on the right holds the owl by its feet, protected by thick puncture-resistant gloves. The second on the left wears blue medical gloves and drapes a beige towel over the owl’s shoulders like a gown and wraps it around the front.

The owl appears perturbed, and although no audio is present, a slightly open beak indicates it may be giving a warning call. One of its “horns” is raised, the other flattened back like “airplane ears” in a fashion typical of an angry cat (although, it should be noted the tufts are not actually the owl’s ears, but rather prominent feathers called plumicorns).

Non-blinking and unflinching, the owls eyes remain fixated on the rehabber with what we can only assume is murderous intent.


Original post – 20 Oct 2019

by Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
located in Goleta, California

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🦉 owl burrito 🌯 we burrito our owl patients during their intake exam while we check their pupillary response and ear canals.

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Link to donate to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

by Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network

located in Goleta, California

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Burrowing owl patient #4242 is in a constant state of 😳. The little owl struck a window pretty hard, and is now recovering from some head trauma and bruising.

Thankfully, he has a nice temporary “burrow” to hang out in while he recovers. Can you spot him?

📷: Ginny H.

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Link to donate to Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

Original post – 22 Jan 2021 – Source

by Lindsay Wildlife at Walnut Creek, California

Website | Instagram | Facebook

“This Great Horned Owl is back in the wild after a traumatic injury and months of rehabilitation. The owl was found entangled in a barbed wire fence in Livermore last November and was brought to our wildlife hospital where it underwent surgery and extensive physical therapy. It was returned to the wild in April near the rescuer’s home. Thanks to rescuers Regina Molitoris and Adam Tufts of Venturing Crew 942 and everyone who made this owl’s return to the wild possible.”

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For those willing and able please consider helping fund Lindsay Wildlife at the following 🔗 DONATION LINK 🔗. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.