ROSS COUNTY, Ohio – In November, a quick-thinking Ohio Division of Wildlife officer helped rescue and rehabilitate two juvenile barn owls, ultimately returning them to their natural habitat with the help of local partners.
State Wildlife Officer Bob Nelson, assigned to Ross County, responded to a call from a local farmer who had discovered two injured juvenile barn owls inside an empty grain bin. Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Nelson observed an adult barn owl flying away from the bin and identified an empty nest located on top of a grain motor, suggesting the owls were part of a family.
The two injured owls were promptly transported to the Glen Helen Raptor Center in Greene County for treatment. After several weeks of care and rehabilitation, Officer Nelson worked alongside the landowner and the Glen Helen staff to return the owls to their original location. The goal was to reunite the young owls with their parents.
To improve the safety and survival prospects of the owls, Glen Helen staff constructed a box and perch on the floor of the grain bin, providing the injured birds with a safer and more secure nesting environment. This collaborative effort between Officer Nelson, the landowner, and wildlife rehabilitation experts helped give the owls the best chance of thriving in the wild once again.
