A Texas state trooper's patrol near Van Horn turned into an owl rescue after he spotted an injured bird in the median of Interstate 10.
Pictures from the scene included the owl in the patrol car's front passenger seat, as the Texas Department of Public Safety (@TxDPS) shared on Facebook.
Here's what to know
The agency wrote in a Facebook post that Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Raymond Torres stopped near Van Horn to help the injured bird he had found in the I-10 median, as FOX 7 detailed.
Several photos showed him posing with the owl in the car. Torres remained with the owl until Texas Parks and Wildlife arrived.
"As a trooper, you never know what each day will bring," the DPS wrote in the post.
An injured animal in the middle of I-10 can face immediate danger from traffic while also becoming a distraction or hazard for drivers on a high-speed interstate.
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Fortunately, it didn't come to that. The owl made it safely back to the station, where Texas Parks and Wildlife staff could care for it. The owl was then transported to the El Paso Zoo for medical treatment.
More background
The report did not say how the owl was injured. Since the bird was found in the median of a major highway rather than deep in open habitat, it offered another example of how wildlife emergencies often unfold in human-built spaces.
Facebook commenters were impressed by the creature's "photogenic" nature.
"That owl was ready for that selfie," a user joked.
"The owl needs to be deputized and needs a badge," another suggested. "Trooper Hoot."
What's being done?
The multistep response began with Torres stopping on I-10, continued with Texas Parks and Wildlife taking custody of the owl, and ended with treatment at the El Paso Zoo.
Together, those steps addressed the immediate roadside risk, the transfer, and the bird's medical care. The photos of the owl inside the patrol car may be what people remember, but it was the coordination and quick thinking by the officers involved that made the difference for the owl.
"Moments like this remind us why strong partnerships with other state agencies and the community are so important," the Facebook post concluded.
Where can I learn more?
Other owl rescues highlight how often these emergencies happen along roads and around people.
• A sheriff's deputy stopped for an injured owl at roadside before traffic made things worse.
• Firefighters freed an injured great horned owl after a collision left it trapped.
• An officer rescued a barred owl trapped in barbed wire after fearing it had died.
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