Owl trapped in SUV makes speedy recovery

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Thanks to veterinarians, a feathered friend could soon be back where it belongs.

The bird was found in a bizarre place a few days ago after it became trapped behind the grille of a sport utility vehicle for hours and taken on a wild ride.

Now, vets are driven to make sure she is all right to be set free. Tuesday, she took a major step toward becoming a free bird. "It is amazing that this owl is doing so well considering the history," said Veterinarian Stefan Harsch. "I was really in awe, so I'm very, very happy that this is going to be a good outcome."

Harsch has every right to be amazed because the story of this great horned owl is nothing short of amazing.

According to folklore, the owl is one of nature's wisest animals, but last week this yellow-eyed beauty found herself in a puzzling situation. "I was driving at 60 miles-per-hour," said Sonji Coney-Williams, "and he never moved, and I said, 'Oh, my God. I hit a bird,' and I felt so bad."

Coney-Williams feared the worst. But after the collision, she had not realized she was carrying a stowaway. The owl took the 140-mile trip from Yeehaw Junction to Plantation while stuck in the grill of a SUV.

When the driver figured out what happened, she called Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the bird was plucked straight out from in front the radiator. "She was very stressed," said Harsch. "She was panting, but other than that, there was no obvious injuries that I could find."

The owl had no broken bones and no major injuries.

Tuesday, the owl took a major step toward freedom.

Veterinarians at the South Florida Wildlife Center moved her to a new, isolated outdoor enclosure, where she will be free to spread her wings without the stress of human interaction. "These are wild animals," said Executive Director of the South Florida Wildlife Center, Sherry Schlueter, "wild patients that are not used to people in social situations."

Another round of tests await, but if the results come back clean, this wayward owl and all of her wisdom should return to the wilderness by the end of the week.

If you were wondering, the staff at the South Florida Wildlife Center does not give animals names. They stress that returning those animals to the wild is their top priority, and they are not pets.

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