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Pinellas County deputy rescues stranded owlet

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Published  April 23, 2025 4:01pm EDT
Pinellas County
FOX 13 News

The Brief

    • A Pinellas County deputy found a stranded owlet on Tuesday morning.
    • The deputy says he found the young owl in a Clearwater parking lot.
    • He called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to take the owl.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - An owl’s howl is sure to get someone's attention, no matter the time of day. 

That rang true Tuesday morning when Pinellas County Detective Smith found an Eastern Screech owlet in traffic.

Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

What Happened:

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office says the young owl was alone in a Clearwater parking lot.

Smith says he found the owl around 8:30 a.m., quickly moving it to safer grounds.

Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

After the young owl's parents never came looking for it, Smith called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for help.

FWC took the owl from the parking lot to a specialized raptor rehabilitation center to take care of it.

READ: Florida man dives into lake to save wounded eagle: 'This is the symbol of America man'

Local perspective:

PCSO says anyone who finds young wildlife alone to look if its parents are nearby before moving it to a safe location (if necessary), then call professionals for help. 

The sheriff’s office also encourages anyone debating whether to call for professional help to take the safe option and make the call.

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The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

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