In April 2018, Pickering Animal Services received a call from a homeowner that noticed a baby Great Horned owl on the ground in their backyard. The homeowner was concerned for the baby owl as the area is frequented by coyotes.
Animal Services officers Nick and Jen immediately responded to the call and performed their due diligence to determine what was needed to do to save the baby owl. With advice from a wildlife rehab organization they purchased a large Rubbermaid container, bungie cords and lined the container with sticks. Great job Nick and Jen! The only missing piece of the puzzle was finding someone who had a ladder and could secure the container high in a tree.
Nick knew who to call. Within 20 minutes I was on-site and excited to help get this vulnerable baby back safely up in a tree, where its parents could continue to care for it.
After securing the Rubbermaid container 25 feet up the baby was carefully placed inside. We then walked the ravine in case there were other babies that had fallen from the nest. No other babies were found.
The homeowner agreed to monitor the situation to ensure the parent owls are reunited with their baby.
