One pool guy gave a hoot, helps save this great horned owl

If your pool guy’s name is Tommy ask him if he’s helped any owls lately.

By Jacque Estes
| 7:46 a.m. February 20, 2017

The ultimate fate of this great horned owl is unknown, but, thanks to an alert pool service tech, it is getting help. Courtesy photo

Mitch, 34326206, is a 1-year-old male cat,available for adoption at Flagler Humane Society. Courtesy photo

Ranger, 33797065, is a 4-year-old male beagle mix, available for adoption at Flagler Humane Society. Courtesy photo

Simba,30311346, is a 2-year-old male cat, available for adoption at Flagler Humane Society. Courtesy photo

Stella, 34614461, is a 7-year-old female Labrador/boxer mix, available for adoption at Flagler Humane Society. Courtesy photo

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

The Pool Police pool tech was doing what he does most every day, cleaning residential pools. But on Wednesday, Feb. 15, the pool tech (only identified as Tommy) saw an owl huddled under some bushes. Definitely not a daily occurrence.

The adult great horned owl was in obvious distress so Tommy called Flagler Animal Services.

Animal Services officer Bryan Denker took the call.

“I knew he was working, and time is money, but I asked if he could stay with the bird until I got there,” Denker said.

Twenty minutes later, Denker arrived to find the bird “walking around as if it were drunk.” He noticed the bird had sustained injuries to the beak area and quickly assessed that it would not be able to survive on its own in this condition.

The bird was quickly contained and taken to Flagler Animal Hospital, where Dr. Courtney Payne examined and stabilized the bird so it could be transferred to the bird sanctuary at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet.

Denker said it isn’t unusual for injured wildlife to be taken to Flagler Animal Hospital for care before transferring the animal to a facility like the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet.

“It is an adult great horned owl, and it appears to have suffered a head injury, and that accounts for why it can’t stand or fly,” Marine Science Tech Tracy Dawson said.

The extent of the injuries was not known on Friday. The owl was scheduled to be seen by a vet at Ponce Inlet on Monday morning.