A remarkable series of events unfolded in Minnesota when Annabell Whelan, 22, rescued two injured owls in a single day, including a snowy owl trapped in a car grille.
Whelan, who works as a guest experience manager at Lake Superior Zoo, first encountered an injured great gray owl on the ground in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Using guidance from Wildwoods rehabilitation center, she carefully approached the distressed bird, which appeared to have eye injuries. After gaining the owl's trust through gentle communication, she safely transported it to Wildwoods, from where it was later transferred to the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center.
However, her day of owl rescues wasn't over. Later that Monday, while out with her boyfriend's family in Duluth, Whelan discovered a snowy owl trapped in a car grille following a collision. With the local animal rescue organization closed for the day, Whelan once again stepped in to help.
She named the snowy owl "Nowl" - a festive play on the word noel - and provided overnight care in her home, keeping the injured bird safe from curious pets. Despite her concerns about the owl's survival through the night, Whelan was overjoyed to find Nowl alive and moving the next morning.
Wildwoods examined Nowl on Tuesday, finding the bird "quite beaten up." They provided immediate medical attention, including a wing wrap and medication, before arranging transfer to The Raptor Center.
The wildlife rescue organization emphasized the importance of driving cautiously and staying alert for animals, advising people to seek professional help when encountering injured wildlife. They also stressed that injured animals should be kept in quiet, safe spaces until professional care is available.
For Whelan, who recently graduated with a biology and environmental science degree, this double rescue was an unexpected application of her expertise. "I definitely thought that I had had my fix of owls with the first one," she remarked about her extraordinary day of wildlife rescue.