this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2025
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US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now
International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com
Australia Rescue Help: WIRES
Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org
If you find an injured owl:
Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.
Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.
Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.
If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.
For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.
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~~How do they safely catch them?~~
Internet is slow. Answered already. Mist nets
I just saw your update as I was about to post an answer, so you get it anyway.
Here's some pics where it's easier to see what's going on with the mist net.
Different sizes of mesh are for catching different things. Too big and too many birds get through, too small and you're catching too many things you don't want and what you do want to catch will bounce off, so nets are sized and set up to catch a specific animal. Only catching what you're after is going to minimize the chances to hurt anything right from the start. Proper vertical slack is given to make pockets in the netting of proper depth.
Birdy will hit the net and tumble down into the pocket and get feet, beak, wings caught up in the net and try to minimize movement. Care is taken to make sure they dont get caught near the ground/obstructions they could hit themselves on trying to get out. Nets should also be checked at least every 15 minutes, so nothing is stuck there longer than necessary.
Birds are removed by untangling them. If any are trapped together or in a situation injury may be more likely, they'll be removed first.
I found a manual on using the nets with a lot more details for anyone interested in more specifics on how the nets work or more steps and advice for removing birds. Section 4 / Page 6 is where the good stuff starts, but I'd recommend at least skimming the whole 10 pages after, there is a lot of cool info.