Texas – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:57:16 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Texas – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Rescued from Barbed Wire https://owlsintowels.org/rescued-from-barbed-wire/ https://owlsintowels.org/rescued-from-barbed-wire/#respond Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4576 A Great Horned Owl is cloaked and hooded in a pink red towel with frayed-edges. One plumicorn is covered by the hood and the other is half-raised, askew, and partially obstructed by the towel. Eyes are yellow with a tinge of green, like the skin of an unripe mango, under the awning of a thin white brow in the shape of two tilde '~~' characters placed back-to-back. A rehabilitator restrains the owl with a thick glove. The owl expresses an ill temper, aimed squarely at camera.

Original post – 17 May 2026
by Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

located in Lucas, Texas, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

This Great Horned Owl (Patient 26-0163) came to our raptor center after being trapped in barbed wire. The owl was lethargic, likely from exerting energy to try and free itself. Our raptor clinic staff removed barbed wire from the owl’s right wing. We cleaned around the wound with diluted chlorhexidine, flushed with sterile saline, applied hydroactive gel to wrist and elbow, applied tefla and tegaderm bandages. Fluids were given to rehydrate the owl. It was then placed in our intensive care unit. The following day, the clinic staff took an ever closer look at the wounds. The right wing had significant swelling over radius/ulna, 1 cm laceration in the proximal ulna, bruising over humerus, patagium severed, abrasion and bruising/swelling over metacarpals. The left wing had a 1 cm laceration in the proximal ulna. Same routing — wounds were cleaned, medications applied, bandages put on. A few more days…and the severed patagium is starting to contract and some bruising is resolving. The clinic staff will continue this process of monitoring the wounds, medicating, and wrapping with bandages during the healing process.

Same photo as before, except now a band of long pink fibres from the towel is flopped across one eye of the owl, while the other eye is semi-depressed by the hood. The result is "Dreamworks Face", as best described by TVTropes: "You know that face. The clever, asymmetrical smirk. The similarly crooked eyebrows. The intense stare-down that comes at you from the promotional movie posters - especially for CG family films. It's the expression that tells you the hero is going to be up to no good, and is much cooler than any of those classic, mainstream, conformist wimps those *other* studios produce."
From a little further back, this photo gives a wider view of the clinical setting. The owl is supine on a stainless steel exam table. The hood of the pink-red towel fully covers the owl's head (to reduce stress) and a second towel is laid flat for cushioning. One worker holds the owl's ankles to prevent those powerful black talons from tearing holes in equipment, people. A second pair of blurple-gloved hands hold the owl's wing and treat injuries with a cotton swab.

Link to donate to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat Horned OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/rescued-from-barbed-wire/feed/ 0 I Was Sprayed by a Skunk https://owlsintowels.org/i-was-sprayed-by-a-skunk/ https://owlsintowels.org/i-was-sprayed-by-a-skunk/#respond Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4270 A Great Horned Owl is wrapped in a peach towel, the hood of which is seated behind his/her plumicorns; feather tufts that looks like ears and in this case are pointed up and a little matted. In addition to the towel, the owl wears an expression of malcontent, amplified by extra wide pupils and a steep angled brow. Unhand me human or my wrath will be swift.

Original post – 10 Nov 2017
by South Plains Wildlife Rehab

located in Lubbock, Texas, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

When you are about to get in the shower and the door bell rings! The Great-horned owl was sprayed by a skunk and had multiple baths. He was blind from the skunk spray. Fortunately on November 16th he was released. A DPS [Department of Public Safety] trooper from Sonora drove the owl to Lubbock when he found him on the side of the road.

Link to donate to South Plains Wildlife Rehab for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat Horned OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/i-was-sprayed-by-a-skunk/feed/ 0 Tex Mex Burritowl https://owlsintowels.org/tex-mex-burritowl/ https://owlsintowels.org/tex-mex-burritowl/#respond Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1929

5th of Owltober!

Original post – 23 Jan 2025
by North Texas Wildlife Center
located in Plano, Texas
Website | Instagram | Facebook

NTWC posted this screech owl on their fb a couple of times with various captions:

Forbidden burrito. Spicy burrito

Tex Mex

Burritowls are a fairly common species around here


Full length of original image:

long burrito is loooong

Link to donate to North Texas Wildlife Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Megascops asioEastern Screech OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/tex-mex-burritowl/feed/ 0 Please Do Not Eat Me https://owlsintowels.org/please-do-not-eat-me/ https://owlsintowels.org/please-do-not-eat-me/#respond Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1919 This Screech Owl's "red morph" variety shows up as shades of cream, light brown and ginger. The buttermilk wrap appears to be purpose-made, with hook-and-loop dots for easier fastening. It pulls around the owl's head slightly and depresses one eyelid over a pale-kiwifruit green eye. The owl is reclined so that the undersides of the feet - called planta or footpads, since they don't have soles the same way humans do - are facing skyward. The owl is atop a black bench and a rehabilitator's hand (in a transparent glove) provides lumbar support. Wooden palings of a fence appear behind.

3rd of Owltober!

Original post – 25 Jun 2025
by Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

located in Lucas, Texas, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

πŸŒ―πŸ¦‰ Introducing the elusive Screech Owl Burrito!

No, we’re not opening a new food truck – this little one was caught up using fabric for its pre-release exam. Don’t worry, it was perfectly fine and mildly offended at the burrito comparison.

Wrapped for release, not for takeout. πŸ˜…

Link to donate to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Megascops asioEastern Screech OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/please-do-not-eat-me/feed/ 0 Draw Me Like One of Your French Owls https://owlsintowels.org/draw-me-like-one-of-your-french-owls/ Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=957
🎡 Near, Far, Wherever You Are 🎡

Original post – 06 Mar 2025
by South Plains Wildlife Rehab

located in Lubbock, Texas, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Normally I link directly back to the original post but this was shared on an Instagram story that has since disappeared. I reached out to South Plains and thankfully they have supplied the original photos:

Wishing this Great Horned well on its recovery and hopeful release. And big respect to the team at SPWRC for the great work they do.

Link to donate to South Plains Wildlife Rehab for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat horned owlWiki link
]]> On the Way to SPCA https://owlsintowels.org/on-the-way-to-spca/ Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:28:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=935

Original post 18 Dec 2024 by @fishlikemike

Clinic: Houston SPCA located in Houston, Texas

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original text:

Another unexpected animal encounter. This owl was really stuck in the barbed wire. Luckily with some careful moving around I was able to free him!

Being unable to fly and with an open wound it needed some medical attention. Even with a un-broken wing it would be very prone to infection. Took this guy about an hour away to an SPCA and it’s expected to make a full recovery!

Always keep your eyes out for wildlife in need of help, most of the time they will be fine without human intervention but times like this it is much needed. This owl had to have been on that fence for at least 6-10 hours. This was mid day and it probably flew into the fence over night. Lots of people must have drove by without seeing it or thinking it was already dead. I always check and this is a perfect example why

For those willing and able, please help fund Houston SPCA at the following link: Ways to Give

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Strix variaBarred owlWiki link

]]> GHOW Recovers from Toxicosis https://owlsintowels.org/ghow-recovers-from-toxicosis/ https://owlsintowels.org/ghow-recovers-from-toxicosis/#respond Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:52 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=479

Original post – 29 Dec 2021 – Source
by Friends of Texas Wildlife at Magnolia, Texas
Website | Instagram | Facebook

“This poor guy needs your positive vibes, prayers, whatever you have! We suspect some type of toxicity and are treating accordingly. Great horned owl, found down and unable to fly. He’s extremely weak and emaciated.”

Update 28 Feb 2022:

“This great horned owl found the end of Dec 2021 made a full recovery and was released back into his home territory (Sam Houston National Forest). We suspect he was suffering from some type of toxicity, but happily he responded to treatment. Once he felt better he spent about three weeks in a large flight enclosure to regain his strength.”

Final photo:

“Release day! He’s in great condition again and flying well.”

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Friends of Texas Wildlife at the following πŸ”— DONATION LINK πŸ”—. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

xo owlsintowels

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat horned owlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ghow-recovers-from-toxicosis/feed/ 0