Watch moment barn owl rescued after being hit by motorbike near Buxton is released back into wild

A family who live nearby saw the owl get hit by a motorbike in Chelmorton, and the bird bounced into some nearby bushes.

They ran towards where the accident happened and found the bird of prey was dazed and unable to fly. There was also some blood above one of his eyes.

After managing to encourage the owl into a dog crate, the family took him to their home and contacted the RSPCA

Inspector Nichola Waterworth was sent to collect the injured bird, following the incident on March 24, and he was taken to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, for veterinary treatment.

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Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, said: “This was a very fortunate owl as usually in road traffic collisions more damage is incurred.

“The owl most likely was stunned but he did have an eye trauma so he was treated for that and given pain relief.

“He was then transferred into one of our larger aviaries until he was fully recovered from his ordeal and was ready to be released back into the wild.”

Nichola said: “It is always a great part of the work we do to release an injured animal back into the wild after it has been rescued and recovered in RSPCA care.

"It is a proud moment for the whole team involved and a privilege to watch so I was pleased to catch the moment on video.

“I am so grateful to the couple who spotted what had happened and went to help the owl and then called us - they did a great job in saving him.”

If you find a wild animal in distress, stuck, sick or injured please contact the RSPCA for advice on 0300 1234 999 or visit the website at https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals.

The RSPCA is a registered charity in England and Wales and relies on public donations.

To find out how you can support the work of the RSPCA, see the website at https://www.rspca.org.uk/.