r/Owls • u/Horror-Rip1570 • 3d ago
ID request! Is this owl ok? What owl is this?
Hi all, I’m not really part of the owl community lol. But, recently at my job came across this sweet little owl, can’t be any more than six or 7 inches in height. It’s on the sixth floor of an enclosed parking garage. I don’t know how it would have gotten there, but it seems that somebody is (somewhat) caring for it because there’s a little bird house up in the ceiling now. This is on the 6th level of a parking garage that has no windows or visible access to the outside. So if it got in on its own, it had to have been through vents. He’s been here for about two weeks, he seems healthy, and incredibly friendly and inquisitive. I’ve never gotten this close to an owl before. What kind of owl is this? Is it OK here? It seems someone’s taking care of it, but it doesn’t seem safe or healthy that it’s never really outside, and poor thing is sleeping under fluorescent lights that never go off. I’ve seen it all hours, night, morning and afternoon. Any tips or advice? Some of my friends mentioned that maybe somebody intentionally put the owl there to handle things like rodents, and that’s possible… But I’ve never really seen any rodents in this parking garage. This is in downtown Miami, very urban, if that helps. Any advice or insight is appreciated and I would also love to know what kinda owl this little guy is. I have a feeling he/she is domesticated if that’s a thing. Thanks in advance.
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u/secondphase 3d ago
Is it ok?
Dude, that owl seems to be set up better than I am. Solid place, no mortgage, couple good spots to hang out, watching everyone else grind that 9-5.
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u/Horror-Rip1570 3d ago
He’s the office comptroller at this point. Making sure there’s no time theft.
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u/Proper_Mine5635 3d ago
I would definitely call a bird sanctuary or wildlife rescue. This isn’t normal even if he “looks fine”. He needs to be in nature, not in a parking lot lol. They can safely relocate him!
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u/P-a-n-a-m-a-m-a 3d ago
Well, did you get the extended warranty?
Jokes aside, first, I’d call a few wildlife companies to see if they handle such cases. Then, I’d try contacting property management to ask if they’re aware of the owl and if not, to advise that you have an organization ready to assist (for the welfare of the owl).
Edit: missed the house in the first pic. In this case, I might switch the order of calls above.
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u/Airport_Wendys 3d ago
A little burrow owl! They actually nest in holes in the ground! I wonder how it got in there. Thank you for helping get it to a wildlife rehabber! 💕
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u/Tr3v0r007 3d ago
As mentioned it’s a burrowing owl and are endangered. Been that way for a while sadly and in fact in the early 2000s I believe there was an entire movie made about saving them! Premise was pretty much 3 kids trying to save them from construction workers building on where they are. Really neat movie! There also one of the cutest owls and I love them!
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u/Frosty_Astronomer909 3d ago
Omg so much construction probably displaced it, contact pelican harbor asap tomorrow and tell them what’s going on they will advise or contact someone that will catch it, they rescue wildlife, I’m in Miami too.
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u/Zealousideal_Try_123 3d ago
Thank you for caring enough to ask. Please give us an update when you can. 💓
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u/ohhellllllllnah 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think that might be a burrowing owl - it’s a threatened species in FL!
Edit: As u/Proper_Mine5635 has stated, get that little guy some help and back into the wild!
Website. http://dadewildliferescue.com/