Reward Offered for JR the Missing Owl

JR, a great horned owl that’s lived in captivity for 14 years, was set free about two weeks ago.  To date there’s been no word on the owl or the suspects who set him free. That makes Largo’s George C. McGough Nature Park officials worry because JR doesn’t know how to survive in the wild.

“As a bird he is disadvantaged because he never developed hunting abilities, “ said Joel Quattlebaum, the park’s nature program specialist.

Fourteen years ago a woman found JR as a chick and he was transferred to Moccasin Lake Nature Park in Clearwater.  Seven years ago he was transferred to McGough Nature Park in Largo.

Sometime during the night of Friday Jan. 28 and the morning of Saturday Jan. 29 suspects entered the park and cut JR's cage open, officials said.  JR was either set free or taken from this point, according to Largo Police.

The city of is offering a $400 reward for information leading to the recovery of JR the Owl.

Park officials believe that JR will stay proximal to the area where he was fed.

The park is getting calls on sightings. On Monday of last week the park got three calls from people who said they heard JR. Quattlebaum went to check it out and he said he heard a gray horned owl. Although there are a fair amount of great horn owls in the area, he is hopeful that it was JR.

Those who know JR best say he is an awkward bird. He relates more to people than other owls, Quattlebaum said.

“He never mated and the probability of him doing so is nominal,” he said.

When park naturist introduced a mate to JR he attacked her. He associates people as his caregiver and that why it’s difficult for him to be with other owls, Quattlebaum said.

JR’s best chances for survival are to come back to the park.

Whether he is returned, depends on where he roots.

“He’ll remain in the area.” Quattlebaum said.

There have been cases where captive owls have regained their abilities to hunt. But whether JR will be one of them, “That is the question we are pondering now,” Quattlebaum said.