Great Horned Owl Rescued from Concrete Mixer in Utah

A great horned owl was discovered partially encased in concrete at a construction site in southwestern Utah after becoming trapped in a cement mixer. The owl was transported to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, where animal sanctuary workers undertook extensive efforts to clean and rehabilitate the bird. Upon arrival, the owl had approximately 25 percent of its body covered in dried concrete, affecting its ability to fly and hunt effectively.

WUPA - CBS AtlantaKUTV Salt Lake City

The sanctuary staff described the owl as a "fighter," and their rehabilitation efforts included daily 20-minute baths under anesthesia to remove the concrete. Workers utilized specialized tools to break apart larger pieces of concrete, followed by manual removal of smaller fragments using their fingers. The cleaning process was meticulous, involving toothbrushes and dish soap to ensure the owl's feathers were restored as much as possible. After two weeks of treatment, the owl demonstrated significant recovery and was able to fly again, although its feathers were still damaged, producing a "whooshing" sound during flight.

WUPA - CBS Atlanta

According to Bart Richwalski, a Wild Friend Supervisor at the sanctuary, the owl's prognosis is positive. It will continue its recovery in a series of progressively larger enclosures to assess its flight capabilities. The sanctuary plans to release the owl back into a natural habitat near its original location once it has fully recovered and shed its damaged feathers, which is expected to occur in the spring or summer of the following year.

KUTV Salt Lake City

Judah Battista, Chief Sanctuary Officer at Best Friends Animal Society, noted that this case was unprecedented for their team, highlighting the unique challenges posed by the owl's condition. Richwalski emphasized the importance of the owl's ability to fly silently, a critical trait for its survival in the wild. He stated, "Once our owl friend recovers, we anticipate taking him back to near where he was found, not on the construction site, but somewhere that is a natural habitat for him and release him and let him be."

KUTV Salt Lake CityWJZ - CBS Baltimore

While the sanctuary's efforts have been praised, some wildlife advocates have raised concerns about the safety measures at construction sites that could prevent similar incidents in the future. They argue that increased awareness and protective measures are necessary to safeguard wildlife from hazardous environments like cement mixers.

WJZ - CBS Baltimore

• “This was a brand-new situation for the Wild Friends team and they really stepped up to the plate to do their best for this owl,” — Judah Battista, Chief Sanctuary Officer, Best Friends Animal Society

KUTV Salt Lake City

• “He's a youngster, which may be why he ended up in a concrete mixer, and we do believe he's a male because he's on the smaller side,” — Bart Richwalski, Wild Friend Supervisor, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

WJZ - CBS Baltimore

• “Now, the owl has a very good long-term prognosis, according to Richwalski.” — Bart Richwalski, Wild Friend Supervisor, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

KUTV Salt Lake City

The successful rescue and rehabilitation of the great horned owl exemplify the dedication of wildlife rehabilitators and the ongoing efforts to protect and restore wildlife in Utah.

KUTV Salt Lake City