Full Breakdown
Great Horned Owl Rescued from Concrete Mixer Receives Imping Surgery and Returns to the Wild
5/20/2026, 11:54:05 AM
Rescue and Release: Core Event
In November 2025 a great-horned owl was found inside a concrete mixer near St. George, Utah, with 25 % of its body covered in dried concrete. A passerby notified Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, which transferred the bird to the Wild Friends rehabilitation center. After six months of care, the owl underwent a 90-minute imping procedure on May 1, 2026, and was released from the sanctuary’s aviary after flight tests confirmed silent flight.
Background: Imping and Feather Damage
The cleaning used 20-minute baths to dissolve concrete, but damaged the owl’s feathers, eliminating the silent-flight advantage needed for hunting. The anticipated spring molt failed to produce sufficient new feathers, prompting the team to learn imping—a method that replaces damaged feathers with donor feathers bonded by adhesive. Donor feathers came from a deceased great-horned owl of similar size donated by a wildlife rescue in northern Utah.
Key Figures & Teams
Bart Richwalski supervised the Wild Friends team and coordinated feather monitoring and the imping surgery. Veterinarian Kelsey Paras assisted with three additional staff members. Chief sanctuary officer Judah Battista provided leadership and public commentary. The Wild Friends crew performed daily care, feather-pattern analysis, and post-procedure monitoring.
Data & Statistics
Concrete covered about 25 % of the owl’s body. Ten primary and one secondary feather on the right wing were replaced; the left wing required none. The procedure lasted about 90 minutes. Decibel measurements confirmed flight noise within silent-flight thresholds before release.
Official Statements & Sanctuary Response
The sanctuary’s press release noted that the owl’s failed molt required imping, a technique the team learned for this case. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary reiterated its belief that every animal has intrinsic value and praised the collaborative effort of the Wild Friends staff, veterinary team, and donor organizations. The release framed the outcome as a successful multidisciplinary rehabilitation restoring the bird’s ecological role.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We looked at his feathers every few weeks so we knew which ones would have to be done, snipping damaged shafts in advance,” — Bart Richwalski, Wild Friends supervisor
- “The first few feathers were extremely nerve-wracking, but as we got into the groove, the imping became more comfortable, and everything went smoothly,” — Bart Richwalski, Wild Friends supervisor
- “I don’t know that my heart was beating until I saw him leave. I was beside myself, knowing that after all this time, he was healthy and back in the wild,” — Bart Richwalski, Wild Friends supervisor
- “Best Friends Animal Society believes that every animal has intrinsic value and the care that our team took with this owl really reflects that belief,” — Judah Battista, chief sanctuary officer
What’s Next
The sanctuary will continue to monitor the owl’s adaptation in the wild and will document the imping outcome to inform future raptor rehabilitation protocols.
