Great Horned Owl Rescued from Concrete Mixer Makes Remarkable Recovery at Utah Sanctuary

The great horned owl is continuing its recovery in an aviary.

A remarkable rescue story has emerged from southwestern Utah, where a great horned owl discovered partially encased in concrete is now on track to return to the wild. After becoming trapped in a cement mixer at the Black Desert Resort, the resilient bird was brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah earlier this month.

Upon arrival, sanctuary staff found the owl's face, chest, and right wing covered in hardened concrete. The dedicated team first ensured the bird could breathe properly before beginning the meticulous cleaning process. Over several days, they carefully cracked and removed the concrete using forceps, and then cleaned the owl's feathers with toothbrushes, dish soap, and gentle hand movements.

Following two weeks of intensive care, the owl has regained its ability to fly and continues recuperating in the sanctuary's aviary. "He's a youngster, which may explain how he ended up in a concrete mixer, and we believe he's male due to his smaller size," explained Bart Richwalski from the animal sanctuary.

Great horned owls typically possess a special downy coating on their feathers that enables silent flight during hunting. However, Best Friends' Chief Sanctuary Officer Judah Battista noted that the concrete severely damaged this owl's feathers. As a result, the bird currently produces a "whooshing" sound when flying.

The sanctuary plans to keep the owl in their care until it completes a natural molt, replacing its damaged feathers and regaining its ability to fly silently. This process is expected to take until next spring or summer. Richwalski shared the future plan: "Once our owl friend recovers, we anticipate taking him back near where he was found, not on the construction site, but somewhere that is a natural habitat for him and release him and let him be."