If you find a wild owl that lets you approach it, then it's either very young or there's something wrong with it. If it's a young owl then please go to the page ‘What to do if you find a very young owl'. Adult owls that have something wrong with them need to be picked up and placed in a suitable container. If the owl can't be caught then there's really nothing anyone can do to help it - just keep going back until you can catch it. A cardboard box that's large enough for the owl to stand up in with a secure lid, a few ventilation holes, and an old towel laid in the bottom for the owl to grip is a fairly ideal container. If catching or picking up an owl with your bare hands, be very careful. The owl's peck is not likely to do you any serious damage (unless it's an eagle owl) but you should certainly avoid its talons. If possible, wear thin leather gloves for protection or perhaps try using an item of clothing or something else you can throw over it or wrap it in.

Catching the owl

To catch the owl, approach from behind and try to get your hands around the back of the owl encompassing the wings and upper part of the legs so that the feet are pointing downwards and away from you. As soon as possible get the owl into a suitable container such as a solid-sided pet carrier or box (see above). Always record exactly where you found it. This is very important information - especially if it's going to be released. Whether you want to care for the owl yourself or pass it on to someone else, you may like to call the Trust for advice. Alternatively, contact your local vets and ask them if they have any experience with wild birds and are they prepared to treat one free of charge (many do). You may like to try contacting the RSPCA.

Alternatively, during office hours you can call us on 01364 653026 and at other times you may need to call our Live Owl Emergency Number. However:

BEFORE you call the Live Owl Emergency number please READ the relevant webpage or PDF Leaflet.

You can check the owls condition yourself by following the advice on this page.

If it’s a young owl please read the page What to do if you find a very young owl and then read either What to do if you find a young Barn Owl or What to do if you find a young Tawny Owl.

If you still need advice, please don’t hesitate to call 07889 695663.

• What seems to be wrong with the owl? If the problem's not obvious don't worry, we can help you find out or help you find someone to examine it. The Trust has its own directory of rehabilitators and there are a couple of other websites that may be helpful. (see Links).
• Whether or not the owl is ringed and, if so, all the letters and numbers on the ring.
• Species identification - This isn't essential for first aid but the advice we give often depends on the species concerned. Take a look at the Owl Identification page on the links to the right.
• The finding circumstances and place. Recording exactly where you found it is really important. An OS grid reference would be ideal.
• Your contact details.

Checking the owl

If you feel confident enough to examine the owl please follow these steps:

Lay the owl on its back, on the palm of one hand, with its feet pointing away from you, the back of its head resting on your wrist/forearm, and its legs and wing tips encircled by your thumb and index finger (firmly but gently so the owl cannot escape by wriggling, or hurt you with its feet) [as pictured]. With your other hand, move your fingertips slowly and lightly onto its chest and feel its breastbone (the raised bony ridge running down the middle). Either side of the breastbone, feel the flesh (wing muscles), how far does the breastbone stick up above the muscles on either side? A few millimetres are normal, more than about 5mm suggests that the owl has been underfed for a significant period. Then run the tips of your fingers right down the breastbone and lightly onto the stomach. Does it feel like an empty hollow of loose skin or can you feel a solid lump? Does the skin feel warm or cold? Still with the owl on its back and using your free hand, spread the wings alternately comparing their appearance and movement, gently move each leg in turn (be aware of the feet) and compare. When checking the wings and legs, look out for unusual movement or perhaps a lack of movement, swellings, blood, and protruding bone. Check the head - make sure both eyes look the same and there is no blood in the beak/nostrils or in the ear openings (situated behind each eye).

If one of the wings, legs, or eyes is definitely not the same as the other then the owl needs to be checked over by a vet or experienced wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. If the stomach is empty AND the breastbone very protrusive the owl needs feeding. A severely emaciated owl needs tubing by an experienced person, this means giving a specific amount of warm water and glucose via a syringe and special tube long enough to reach into the body cavity (do not try this unless you have the right equipment and you've been shown how to do it).

Feeding the owl

In emergencies it's OK to use small pieces of raw poultry meat or raw lean beef (but not lamb or pork). Do not give pure lean meat without roughage for more than two days at a time and never give bone without roughage such as fur or feathers. Never use cooked meat, canned pet food, or any non-meat food (other than certain liquid feeds which may be prescribed by a vet in certain circumstances). The ideal food is dead mice or poultry chicks available frozen from pet shops (thoroughly defrost before use). A Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, or Short-eared Owl should consume approximately 2-3 day-old chicks or 4-5 mice per 24 hours; a Tawny Owl should have 3-3.5 day-old chicks or 6-7 mice, a Little Owl 1.5-2 chicks or 3 mice. An owl is unlikely to recognise white mice or yellow chicks as food straight away whereas grey-brown food items may be readily eaten. Unnaturally coloured food items should be cut up into three or four pieces (scissors are often best) and placed on a piece of wood in the box close to the owl. A very sick-looking owl should be given cut-up food, in pieces about the size of its beak, rather than whole items. When it starts eating well switch to whole mice or chicks. Don't put the food in a dish otherwise a single dropping can easily contaminate all of it. Keep the owl on a towel wrapped around a newspaper rather than shredded paper or straw - in this way you'll be able to see if the food is gone rather than hidden and see the colour of any droppings produced, and find any pellet produced.

If you feel it needs force-feeding please take advice.

If the owl dies very soon after you found or received it, then don't feel bad, it was probably going to die anyway.

BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) rings

BTO rings are metal (silver in colour) split rings that fit around the bird's ankle. It is VERY important that all such rings are reported. Please see the instructions given in the page ‘What to do if you find a dead owl'.

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