Twas the week before Christmas, and perched on the tree was an magical visitor as wise as can be…
It came down the chimney, but wasn’t named Santa, a majestic barred owl dropped in unexpected.
Savannah Burgoyne was at home with her young children in Arlington, Virginia, when she first saw the bird fly through her living room and land atop the tree—and a finer tree topper you’ll never find.
She called the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and Spencer Murray was dispatched on the jolly house call.
His strategy was to let the bird tired itself out flying from the tree to the kitchen cabinets, with a large net ready to scoop the predator out the double french doors, and back into the suburban skies.
Murray took to social media to post photos and remind everyone to keep their chimneys capped with wire to prevent curious critters from coming inside.
Savannah joked that she was disappointed there was no letter from Hogwarts that came with the owl.
Choosing that local Welfare League, which shelters homeless animals and facilitates adoptions, probably was not the correct call to make, nor would a local animal control agency.
Instead, in a situation like this, homeowners should call a local wildlife rescuer, which is better prepared to respond, although Murray reported the owl was safely captured and led outside. (See for yourself in the video below.)
On the bright side, the group did send the family a surprise holiday gift: an owl tree-topper to remember their encounter forever, and to replace the star that collapsed under the weight of the beefy holiday visitor.
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We like to think the Burgoyne family also has a stellar Christmas card idea for next year.
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