A juvenile great horned owl has been released back into the wild in California after recovering from injuries tied to an alleged baseball bat attack, the Ojai Raptor Center said.
According to the center, the bird spent five months in rehabilitation after a Good Samaritan rescued him from a group of teenagers in April.
Here's what to know
According to KABC, the Ojai Raptor Center identified the bird as Patient 26-224 and said he was admitted in April after someone intervened when teenagers were allegedly striking the young owlet with a baseball bat.
When the owl reached the center, he was suffering from internal injuries and a closed fracture of the metatarsus, or a broken foot bone, which required a lengthy recovery.
At the end of September, the center said the owl had recovered enough to be released. Five months after arriving in care, the center said it returned him to the wild in Lancaster.
More background
The center posted Instagram photos showing the owl during treatment, including an X-ray of the foot injury.
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No additional details were released about the teen suspects or the alleged attack, KABC reported.
As the Ojai Raptor Center put it: "From a very difficult beginning to flying free again, this is exactly what wildlife rehabilitation is all about."
"Big props to the person who intervened and got this poor little friend medical care. That must have been one of the most satisfying releases," one commenter wrote.
"Thank you for your important work," another added. "So glad 26-224 made a full recovery and is soaring through the skies."
Where can I learn more?
These other owl rescues show how often these birds survive serious injuries or dangerous entanglements when people step in to help.
• Firefighters managed to free a great horned owl lodged in a car's front grille.
• Police officers found a poisoned barred owl on a road and uncovered a wider threat.
• In Gladstone, Missouri, officers rescued an owl trapped in a soccer net.
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