Baby Rescue Owl Goes Everywhere With Her New Family
A rescue owl taken in by a wildlife rehabilitator has found a permanent home with a human family and goes everywhere with them!
The owl was rescued by falconer Alura, who decided to keep the owl and welcome her in as a permanent part of the family.
In an interview with The Dodo, Alura explained that she holds two licenses to work with birds of prey. Her goal is to rescue, raise, and release the animals but sometimes, an individual will come to her that's non-releasable.
Michael happened to be one such raptor that she rescued as a baby. The Eurasian eagle owl ended up being non-releasable and Alura made the decision to keep her and give her the best life possible.
Part of living with a wild animal includes forming a bond with that animal that allows her to feel like part of the family. That's exactly what Alura did.
As she shared with The Dodo, Micahel accompanied her everywhere from school drop-offs to grocery store runs. The bird grew comfortable not only with her but her with kids as well! Eventually, Michael imprinted on Alura and the family and accepted the humans as her own.
Alura explained on Instagram:
"The bond between a Eurasian eagle owl and a human is a truly remarkable thing to witness. As the owl is hand-raised from a young age, it begins to see its human companion as a member of its family. ...As the owl grows, it becomes increasingly confident and comfortable around its human companion, and can be trained to perform various tasks such as hunting and flying to a glove or perch."
She added, "Despite the bond between owl and human, it's important to remember that even the most well-trained eagle owl is still a wild animal and should be treated with respect and caution. It is also important to provide them with the appropriate environment, diet, and enrichment to maintain their physical and mental well-being."
If you'd like to see more of Micahel and Alura and their unique bond, be sure to check out the video below:
You can keep up with Micahel on Instagram or on TikTok, @big.talons.
Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.