A burrowing owl took an unexpected two-week journey at sea after it boarded the Symphony of the Seas cruise ship in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received a call about the bird’s accidental boarding.
They sent biologist Ricardo Zambrano to rescue the owl, who only had one hour before new passengers boarded the ship for a trip to Mexico.
Picture: Florida fish and wildlife/Flickr
‘With the help of the ship’s staff, Zambrano was able to place mist nets around the bird’s seemingly favourite part of the ship – the exit signs by the door,’ officials said. After two failed attempts, the owl ended up on the balcony of one of the ship’s 10th-story cabins. The crew distracted the bird, and Zambrano was able to get it from the balcony railing safely.
The owl, a threatened species in Florida, appeared to be in good health, but it was taken to the South Florida Wildlife Center as a precautionary measure. Burrowing owls are one of the smallest in the state, reaching only nine inches in height. They mainly feed on insects and eat small reptiles, birds, frogs, and rodents.
‘After the amazing rescue, the cute little stowaway was safely assisted with the disembarkation process,’ the FWC said in a Facebook post. ‘He had nothing to claim in customs.’
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If someone encounters a burrowing owl outside its ideal habitat, the FWC advises not to capture it themselves but to call a professional.
Watch the encounter in the video below:
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