Firefighters Rescue Great Horned Owl In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — A great horned owl trapped in fishing line was rescued on Monday afternoon in Greenwich by members of the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company and the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company.

Greenwich resident Lisa Small spotted the owl after picking her son up from Parkway School, according to an announcement from the RHVFC.

"As I drove across the causeway, I spotted something moving out of the corner of my eye. I stopped and went back and saw the owl hanging by its wing. My heart was breaking watching it try to free itself," she said in a news release from the RHVFC.

The owl was suspended in fishing line about 15 feet above the South Stanwich Reservoir. Animal Control was closed for the day, so Small called her husband, David Chass, firefighter and president of the RHVFC.

Chass then called the Greenwich Police Department, who then called the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT-DEEP).

Chass told Patch it appeared as if the female owl was stuck for at least 45 minutes, but it's hard to tell exactly how long. Rather than waiting for CT-DEEP to respond, Chass and RHVFC Assistant Chief Sharon Strain got a hold of the owl, and Glenville Captain Jeff Raiente cut the line to free it. Chass held onto the owl while waiting for CT-DEEP to arrive.

During the rescue, Strain was cut above the eye by the owl's talons. She went to Greenwich Hospital for treatment, and is said to be "doing well," according to Chass.

Chass told Patch it was "incredibly gratifying" to help the owl.

"We weren't sure originally if it was alive or not," Chass told Patch. "[She] had to have been hanging up there for quite some time. [She] was exhausted it seemed."

The owl is now in the care of Christine's Critters, a Weston-based nonprofit which rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured birds of prey.

"Only time will determine if there is lasting damage," Chass said, noting that the owl is doing well and recovering.

It's currently nesting season, Chass explained, and there could be an unattended nest with eggs or babies. Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for a nest in the South Stanwich Reservoir area.

Anyone who notices evidence of a nest should contact Chass (david.chass@roundhillfiregreenwich.org) who will work with CT-DEEP and Christine’s Critters to ensure the safety of other owls.

According to the Connecticut Audubon Society, great horned owls are the largest commonly found, year-round owl species in the state of Connecticut.

Their population numbers have declined 33 percent over the past 50 years, and their populations can fluctuate according to the availability of prey, the CT Audubon Society said.

The owls usually weigh just 3 pounds, but they have a grip strength of 28 pounds. Their name comes from the pointy ear tufts that sit atop their heads.

These owls gravitate towards second-growth forests, swamps, and orchards, but they usually prefer a mix of forest and open space, the CT Audubon Society added. The owls can be found in wooded parks, suburban neighborhoods and cities.