POTOMAC, Md.–聽鈥淭hat looks like a weird rock.鈥�
That鈥檚 the thought that went through Potomac resident Ann Fleming鈥檚 head when she spotted something on the ground near her home on Tuesday.
Fleming was out walking her dogs, and something about the thing on the ground made her take a closer look– that鈥檚 when she noticed that the thing she thought was a rock was staring back at her.
鈥淚 saw these two big eyes looking back at me!鈥� she said.聽It wasn鈥檛 a rock, it was a young great horned 聽owl.
Fleming, an animal lover, worried that the owl might be injured, but didn鈥檛 want to just scoop it up. She鈥檇 heard about , 聽so she called them and was referred to . She was told it could be a while before an officer could get to Potomac, so she and her brother took turns watching over the owl. 鈥淲e did a little security watch, because we do have foxes in the neighborhood and I was so worried about this little baby owl,” Fleming said.
When Montgomery County Animal Services Officer Lavonia Byrd showed up, Fleming says Byrd sized up the situation.聽She聽determined the young owl was days away from being able to fly, and the exposure to foxes and other predators was too great a risk. So the little raptor was collected and another link in the local wildlife rescue network was contacted: 聽Suzanne Shoemaker at , a non-profit that rescues and rehabilitates birds of prey, was called in and took over.
The bird, a great horned owl, was looked after, checked for injuries and by Friday, plans for the bird鈥檚 return to its nesting site were finalized.
Early Friday morning, a team of volunteers gathered at the foot of the tree where the owl鈥檚 nest had been. A specially-assembled simulated nest was constructed using a laundry basket lined with organic materials. The 鈥渘est鈥� was hoisted up and fastened to the tree with the help of Mike Fried, a Frederick county arborist who frequently volunteers with聽Shoemaker鈥檚 organization. He says聽he not only loves trees, but the birds who make their homes up in their branches.
Once the nest was secured, it was time to hoist the little bird to its perch. 聽Fleming said it was great to see the young owl鈥攖hey don鈥檛 know whether it鈥檚 male or female鈥攑laced safely in the nest. 聽But Fleming says she won鈥檛 relax just yet—it turns out the rescued owl has a sibling, who was doing just fine, exploring branches on the tree.
Shoemaker says both owl parents were in the area, checking in on their babies, and that sometimes, separated siblings will find each other and end up in the new nest. Fleming says that鈥檚 her hope. In the meantime, she says 鈥淚鈥檓 going to be on Owl Baby Two watch. They鈥檙e just adorable.鈥澛� Shoemaker says she and her volunteers from Owl Moon Raptor Center will be monitoring the site with Fleming鈥檚 help鈥攋ust in case.
Fleming has spent the better part of this past week making sure that the owl would be taken care of, despite having a busy schedule herself. She could have just left the owl, but says 鈥淚鈥檓 just not one of those people. I have to help out鈥擨鈥檓 an animal lover.鈥澛� Fleming has three rescue dogs at home, but says her love of animals extends beyond her front door. 鈥淲e live in a beautiful area鈥攚e have so much nature around us. I think it鈥檚 our responsibility to help out鈥� 聽and referring to her wild neighbors, Fleming says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 really their territory –we鈥檝e moved into it.鈥�
Editors’s note: If you find a wild animal in the city that needs help, animal care programs like聽are聽here to help.聽Even though your intentions are good, caring for an orphaned or injured animal can sometimes hurt them instead.
