A happy update to a story we had in the March edition of the Monarch Press. A beautiful barn owl that had been caught in a tree and entangled by fishing wire has been successfully released back into the wild.

The barn owl was found dangling 60ft in the air from a palm tree branch after being trapped in fishing wire. Goleta Public Works staff members Jorge Flores and Joel Rubio, with the City’s recently acquired Boom Lift, were able to aid Santa Barbara County in safely rescuing and untangling the owl.

Unfortunately, the bird was suffering from capture myopathy and its condition did not look good. However, thanks to the diligent care of staff at the Ojai Raptor Center the owl’s health improved to the point where it was ready to be set free.

On Saturday, March 9, Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martin, Mayor Perotte, and a few other lucky witnesses were able to view the exciting moment as the barn owl took flight once more into the beautiful Goleta sky.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in this successful rescue and release. The return of the Barn Owl to its natural habitat would not have been possible without you.

Please let this heartwarming ending serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting our environment and the wildlife that inhabits it.

Photo credit: The Independent