Stroppy Eagle Owl

A Spotted Eagle Owl is wrapped in a slate blue towel in a burrito-like fashion. The rehabber holds the fledgling upright for the camera with their left hand (in a white medical glove), and takes the photo with their right. The original post says "rehabbers often have to handle admissions solo" which explains the improvised wrapping technique common to a lot of posts here, which enables the carer to take notes, photos, and administer food, fluids, treatment etc. The owl's feathers are mostly grey with a white outer fuzz looking like fresh snow. Her beak is tucked in behind the wrap, leaving only her green-yellow eyes visible, which are expressive, thanks in part to black markings that appear like raised eyebrows.

19th of Owltober!

Original post – 26 Sep 2025
by FreeMe Wildlife
located in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal
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Original text:

Creativity is key🤔🔑

When working at a rehab centre, anything can happen at any time, day or night. This means our rehabbers often have to handle admissions solo (holding, treating, taking photos etc.), which often leads to comical improvisations. This Spotted Eagle Owl fledgling was being especially stroppy on admission, and so had to be restrained in a towel burrito while a small wound on her neck was being treated🤣🌯🦉.

Two days later…

Update on our blind Spotted Eagle Owl fledgling🦉🦉🦉

This young spotty, now known as Eyeball😂, is doing much better than on admission. While both pupils have returned to normal size, we’re not convinced she can see much more than light or movement. It’s been a long road for this baby, and her journey with us is not quite over yet. We are cautiously hopeful that she will continue to improve and regain her sight fully. In the meantime, she has moved to a bigger cage and will soon be tested in an outside enclosure.

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤

Link to donate to FreeMe Wildlife for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link

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