BRANDON, Fla. — A great horned owl that escaped its enclosure during Hurricane Debby was found safe almost two weeks after he disappeared.
The animal, named Charlie, was found near a home in Brandon after a person spotted him in her backyard. The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay said they were able to pick him up right away.
"He had fluids and it's gonna take him a little while to recover from his Ordeal [sic]. He is very thin. He has eaten a little bit and very glad to be home," a Facebook post said.
Staff was worried about the 4-year-old owl because he is blind in one eye, doesn't know how to hunt, doesn't fly well and would not survive in the wild, according to a Facebook post. The center has had Charlie since he was 6-weeks-old.
In a previous post, staff said Charlie was probably very hungry and getting weaker as the days went on.
President of the center Nancy Murrah shared a picture of him on the way home and said he even fell asleep on her chest during the drive.