A barn owl has been released back into the wild after six months of rehabilitation at the Pelican Harbour Seabird Station (PHSS) in Miami. The owl was brought to the hospital after suffering multiple injuries, including limited use of one leg, and was the sole survivor of a fallen nest.
Traditional rehabilitation methods were initially used, but the hospital brought in a wildlife acupuncture specialist when results were limited. The specialist incorporated routine acupuncture sessions into the owl’s care plan, which led to significant improvement in the bird’s strength and mobility.
Release and Milestone
On June 17, PHSS released the barn owl back into the wild after it made a full recovery. The release marked a historic milestone for the wildlife hospital, as the bird became PHSS’s 49,000th patient to be treated since its founding in 1980. According to the clinic, patient intake is up by 27% compared to the same time last year, and they are expected to treat a total of 3,000 patients in 2026.
Sarah Lyon, Communication & Advancement Coordinator at PHSS, said, ‘This owl’s journey is a testament to the creativity, perseverance, and compassion of our staff – and to the incredible resilience of the wildlife we serve.’
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
