Cecily Tynan Recognized By PETA After Rescuing Baby Owl

Philadelphia meteorologist Cecily Tynan was out for a run recently when she came across a baby owl that looked like it was in desperate need of help.

She took him to the Wildlife Clinic at the Schuylkill Center in Roxborough, where the owl was given immediate medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery.

Her act didn't go unnoticed.

PETA is presenting Tynan with a Compassionate Action Award for her work.

The owl, now named Ridley, was very dehydrated, but thanks to intravenous fluids and other care from center officials, he is recovering and expected to be released back into the wild in August, according to PETA.

"Thanks to Cecily Tynan's quick thinking, this owlet got the care he desperately needed and will be able to grow up and thrive in the wild," PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said in a statement. "PETA hopes her kindness will inspire others to come to the aid of animals in distress."

A rash of recent incidents of humans thinking they need to "protect" infant wildlife has led to serious consquences, such as the case of a Yellowstone tourist putting a baby bison in the trunk of their van because it "looked cold."

However, PETA said this case was very, very different.

On their website, PETA offers a guide for when to intervene, including a guide for saving baby birds, available here. The guide explains how to identify whether a bird is a featherless nestling who needs to be returned to his or her nest or a healthy fledgling who is safely exploring his or her environment.

Tynan will receive a framed certificate and a box of vegan cookies.