Santa Hoo? Owl Flies Down Chimney and Perches on Top of Family's Christmas Tree
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington responded to a call about the unexpected visitor, who has been safely returned to the wild
Animal Welfare League of Arlington/Instagram (2)
A photo of the owl perched on a family's Christmas tree.One lucky family got a hoot of a tree topper this Christmas!
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) revealed on social media that one of their officers was recently called in to carefully remove an owl that made itself at home on top of a Christmas tree.
“Twas the week before Christmas, and perched on the tree was an unexpected visitor as majestic as can be! 🎄,” the AWLA wrote alongside a pair of photos of the bird.
The organization jokingly noted that the creature — which they identified as a barred owl — “decided to play Santa” and dropped in through the chimney of a “local home” in Arlington, Va. The bird then flew over to the top of the tree, knocked over the existing star and “declared himself the newest star on top of their Christmas tree.”
Related: The Best Time to Buy a Real Christmas Tree and How to Make It Last Longer, According to an Expert
An AWLA officer went to the home and “gently” captured the owl before safely releasing it back into the wild.
The Instagram post also served as a reminder for homeowners to keep their chimneys “capped” during the winter season to “prevent curious critters from coming to visit," the organization noted.
The Barred Owl can be found in the middle, northern eastern and U.S. states and parts of Canada and often live in forests and woodlands, according to AllAboutBirds.org. They often nest in large trees — which is why they probably feel so at home in Christmas trees.
This isn’t the first time an owl was caught in a Christmas tree during the holidays. Last December, a Kentucky family found out that a baby owl had been living undetected for four days inside a Christmas tree in their home, according to WDKY.
It wasn’t until a carpet cleaner noticed the animal “sitting on a lower limb” of the tree while working in the house. Homeowner Michelle White recalled to WDKY, “I thought he’d put a stuffed animal or an ornament in it, so I called him immediately. I’m like, ‘You’re kidding me, right?’ He was like, ‘No.’ ”
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In 2019, another Georgia family found a live owl nestled in their evergreen — alongside several other owl ornaments.
And in 2020, a tiny Saw-whet owl was found in New York City's famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The bird, who was nicknamed Rocky, was released back into the wild by the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.
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