When construction workers in Florida suddenly saw four tiny, fluffy owlets tumble out of an air vent and onto the concrete floor, they knew the little ones needed help fast.
Their worried parents circled nearby, but the babies were far too young to fly back to safety.
That’s when volunteers Adriane and Lulu from WILD Florida Rescue (WFR) arrived. At first, they thought the rescue would be quick — but reuniting the babies with their parents turned into a delicate, days-long effort.
The team first tried placing the owlets in a nest box just outside the construction site. But the parents refused to approach, uneasy with the new setup.
The next day, the rescuers moved the babies back inside, closer to the original nest. Almost immediately, the parents returned and began caring for their young again.
Still, the team worried about leaving the babies inside an active construction zone. After some trial and error, they came up with a compromise: placing the nest box in a safe spot that was partway inside and outside — close enough to feel familiar to the parents, but far enough from danger.
This time, it worked perfectly. With cameras set up nearby, the volunteers watched with joy as the owlets thrived under their parents’ care.
Over the following weeks, the tiny fluff balls grew stronger, eventually stretching their wings and preparing to fledge.
For Adriane and Lulu, the effort was worth every challenge.
“We are so thrilled, even with all the work and worries, that these babies remained with their parents to fledge,” WFR shared.
You can see more images of the owl family here:
Thanks to teamwork, patience, and determination, the little family stayed together — safe and sound — until the day the owlets were ready to fly off on their own.
To support rescues like this one, you can donate to WILD Florida Rescue.
