Malnourished barn owl released after rescue

The barn owl has since gained strength and made a "tremendous recovery"

A malnourished barn owl that was rescued by a member of the public has been nursed back to full health and released into the wild by animal rescuers.

The owl had been placed into intensive care for monitoring at RSPCA Oak and Furrows, near Cricklade in Wiltshire, where it was kept in an incubator to warm up.

Staff at the centre say it soon perked up after eating, where it became clear they were dealing with "what can only be described as a very feisty barn owl".

The rescue centre has urged the public to report any concerns over animal welfare to ensure creatures get the necessary care and specialist treatment they need.

A member of the public carefully placed the owl in a box before calling the rescue centre for help

The barn owl came to the rehabilitation centre after a member of the public found it hiding a hedgerow near a main road.

Staff say it appeared weak and "extremely lethargic", most likely from not having eaten for days.

Upon admission it was placed in an incubator to warm up and encouraged to feed. Eventually, it began feeding by itself and gradually putting on weight.

Once the owl had built up enough strength, and with the all clear from the vets, it was released on Wednesday.

The rare hedgehog was found with blunted spines near her head, suggesting she had been struck by a garden strimmer

The centre also recently took in a rare blonde hedgehog named Alberta, who had been struck by a strimmer and arrived at the centre completely drenched due to heavy rain storms.

Staff say the female hedgehog was covered in fleas and ticks and was very small for this time of year.

After seven weeks of rehabilitation, Alberta gained an impressive 300g and was deemed strong enough by vets to thrive on her own.

She was released into neighbouring woodland on 16 January.

The centre said her case served as a reminder to check long grass and foliage for wildlife, as strimmers and mowers can cause catastrophic injuries.

Upon her release, Alberta stayed in her cosy hedgehog house for two more hours before making her way to the woodland

Joe Norman, RSPCA Oak and Furrows manager, said: "Wildlife needs all the help it can get currently, with many species experiencing population declines for a number of reasons.

"We're doing everything we can to ensure as many animals as possible are rehabilitated and released, however we can't do that if wildlife casualties aren't reported to us.

"We see many species at our centre that require specialist care and should not be rehabilitated at home, as often improper care can make the patient's condition much worse."