Orange Beach, Ala. - (OBA) - Last week, a Great Horned owl found itself in a precarious situation when it was discovered at a utility’s facility immersed in sewage sludge. The bird was taken into the care of the Orange Beach Wildlife Center and Management Program, an organization committed to the preservation and rehabilitation of native wildlife in the area.

The process of cleaning the owl was an intricate one, as bathing can cause significant stress for the bird. To minimize this, the team at Orange Beach Wildlife opted for several shorter baths over multiple days, rather than one prolonged bath. Three baths have been conducted so far, and while the owl still has a faint odor of the sludge, its condition has improved substantially.

The owl has shown remarkable progress, beginning to eat on its own and demonstrating a high level of activity and feistiness - both promising signs of a healthy bird. Although still in the recovery phase, the team at Orange Beach Wildlife is hopeful about its chances of returning to the wild soon.

Coastal Resources Programs Coordinator Melissa Vinson, heads the group through a myriad of wildlife emergencies. The team, which notably includes Wildlife Rehab Specialist Julie Lesznar, devises treatment plans and provides critical care to injured or orphaned wildlife. Lesznar, credited for her adeptness in creating these plans, along with a dedicated team of interns, contributes significantly to the center's success. 

The Orange Beach Wildlife Center and Management Program has a history of successfully rehabilitating and releasing injured wildlife. Earlier, the center nursed a Great Horned Owl back to health after it was found entangled in fishing gear. The owl had been severely malnourished and infected due to a lure with two treble hooks in her mouth and behind a wing. The bird, under the care of the center's director, Melissa Vinson, Rehab Specialist Julie Lesznar, managed to survive and was eventually released back into the wild.

Aside from their wildlife rehabilitation efforts, the center also provides volunteer and internship opportunities. The center encourages the public to support its mission by following them on Facebook, checking out their Amazon Wishlist, or making a donation.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the team at Orange Beach Wildlife remains dedicated to helping the Great Horned owl make a full recovery and reenter the wild. The resilience of the owl, combined with the center's unwavering commitment to wildlife preservation, provides a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity.