Loyal area couple rescues owl

When a local couple discovered a raptor in need, they did “owl” they could to help it.

Jake and Jeana Bennett live along Highway 98 between Loyal and Spencer. The weekend of Jan. 14, Jake took his dog out for a walk in the morning and was letting her mosy around the yard when all of a sudden, “Whump! Out of nowhere this owl fell down out of the tree,” said Jake. “I grabbed the dog by the collar because I didn’t want it to get a talon in the face.”

He took his dog inside and told his wife about the downed bird. It seemed to be injured and Jake was concerned that it might go on the highway and get hit by a vehicle, or get stuck in the snowbank.

The Bennetts weren’t sure at first who to contact for rescuing the bird. However, Jake shared a photo of the owl on social media and his nephew messaged back and suggested Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, a nonprofit that cares for and rehabilitates wild birds.

Jeana contacted REGI and asked about the process for taking in a bird. Because it is a volunteer group, REGI didn’t have anyone who could come and pick up the bird that day, but the REGI staff member said they could walk the Bennetts through the process of capturing the owl.

When Jake went back outside, the owl started hopping a little bit toward the highway, flew a little bit and then landed. But it didn’t get too far.

As REGI instructed, Jake took a towel, put it over top of the owl and carefully picked it up.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking because I didn’t want a talon clawing into me,” he said. “But I just used the towel to pick it up. I handled it very gently because it is so soft. I wrapped the towel around it and it poked its head out. Then we put it in a cardboard box.”

The Bennetts made the trip to Antigo right away.

“We had it in the backseat and my daughter was next to it. Every once in a while she would check to make sure it was still alive. She would peek at it and sure enough, it still had those little beady eyes poking out,” said Jake.

The Bennetts made it safely to the REGI center and there learned the bird was a female barred owl with injuries to her right wing and leg. The REGI staff suspected the owl may have been hit by a car the night before and was able to get herself into a tree for protection, but had problems balancing and fell. REGI plans to care for the owl and, assuming her injuries heal correctly, eventually release her into the wild.

“She is in good weight and otherwise a healthy bird, so we are cautiously optimistic that she will make a full recovery! Time will tell,” wrote a REGI staff member in a Facebook post.

Jake was just happy he was there at the right time to help a wounded creature.

“She was sitting there, stuck in the snow. It was almost like she needed to be helped,” he said.

This is not the only barred owl from the area to be rescued recently. One was admitted to REGI Jan. 18 after being hit by a car in Wood County. Another was admitted from Pittsville on Thanksgiving Day after being found by a hunter. That owl showed signs of toxins in his system. Another was found in the Chili area this past summer, likely after being hit by a car. It was recuperated and released July 15.

In addition to rehabilitating birds, REGI avian ambassadors give presentations around the state to teach people the amazing characteristics of raptors. To keep up-to-date with the happenings at REGI, follow the “Raptor Education Group, Inc.” Facebook page or visit raptoreducationgroup.org.

Shown is the female barred owl that Jake and Jeana Bennett rescued after it fell out of a tree in their yard. They took the owl to Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) in Antigo for rehabilitation.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO