this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2026
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US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now
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If you find an injured owl:
Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.
Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.
Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.
If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.
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Why is it called a "long-eared" owl? Where are the long ears? 🤔
The true ears are right behind the eyes on the side of the head. Many owls have offset ears to give them a 3D mental map of sound. It's not quite the echolocation of a bat, as the owl isn't sending out any sound, it's more like the superhero Daredevil or one of those blind samurai, though for the owls, it's actually real!
The Long Eared Owl gets its name from what many people think are the ears, the plumicorns. Plumicorns true functions are still not completely determined, but they can be used for nonverbal communication. They are small clusters of about 3 feathers, and since owls have voluntary control over their feathers, they can put them up, down, sideways at will. So this one just has them tucked since it's flying.
Thanks for the information! 🙂
Of course! I am here for any and all owl questions!
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