Oregon firefighters rescue owl tangled in fishing line

Published 12:39 pm Friday, November 27, 2015

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Wildlife rehabilitation workers said a great horned owl that was tangled in fishing line is resting after being rescued by Oregon firefighters.

The Grants Pass Daily Courier reported that a resident in Shady Cove saw the adult male owl flapping its wings erratically while high up a tree on Sunday.

Jackson County Fire District No. 4 Captain Rick Mendenhall said the owl was “stuck big time.”

Firefighters were able to rescue the bird, which had fishing line wrapped tightly around one wing. They removed the line and put the bird on the ground, but it was too tired to fly.

So they wrapped the owl in a blanket and took it to rehabilitation center Wildlife Images.

Marketing coordinator Devan Ferrell said the owl will be released if and when it regains its wing strength.