Officers with the Pennsylvania Game Commission are always prepared to step in when a defenseless animal needs help.
That proved true once again when Sergeant Ritter was dispatched after receiving a call about a small creature fighting for its life in Children’s Lake, Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.
The moment he reached the scene, Ritter scanned the shoreline until he finally spotted the distressed animal near the water’s edge.
The bird’s wings were submerged, leaving her powerless to escape. Ritter quickly snapped a photo and sent it to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center.
Quick Rescue And Dedicated Care
Once Ritter arrived at the center with the animal, staff identified her as a Great Horned Owl. Based on their assessment, she may have struck a concrete wall while chasing prey at high speed, which likely caused her fall into the water.
When she was admitted, the owl was drenched, exhausted, and carried a foul odor. Both wings showed significant injury. Because of the summer heat and humidity, flies had already invaded the wounds, and maggots were visible as well.
Despite her critical state, the wildlife team immediately began treatment. They cleaned her injuries, administered fluids, and allowed her to rest in a quiet environment.
Even though she was receiving lifesaving care, the owl showed no interest in human contact. From the start, she made it clear she wanted nothing more than to return to her natural world.
Understanding this, the staff soon transferred her to an outdoor flight enclosure. There, her recovery sped up dramatically. She began spreading her wings again and showed visible progress each day.
“Once she started eating on her own again, and [her] wings [were] healing, it was like the fast track for her,” wildlife rehabilitator, Tracie Young, told The Dodo.
It wasn’t long before the owl’s strength returned, and preparations began for the moment she had been waiting for.
A Return To The Wild
Exactly one month after Ritter had rescued her from drowning, the owl was strong enough to be released back into the wild.
She was transported to an area with expansive fields bordered by trees, the perfect habitat for her.
As soon as she sensed freedom in the air around her, she lifted her wings and launched skyward without hesitation.
“The owl wasted no time in taking flight and immediately disappeared into the thick tree line,” Raven Ridge Wildlife Center wrote enthusiastically in their Facebook post.
For Young and the rest of the team, the release was a deeply moving reward after weeks of effort.
“Each animal and each release, especially with the birds of prey and the owls and stuff, it’s a sigh of relief when you see them taking off,” Young said. “They got a second chance. They’re free again.”
Thanks to the quick response of Sergeant Ritter and the unwavering dedication of Raven Ridge staff, one owl not only survived but soared back to the life she was destined to live.