A mammoth rescue mission was launched after shocked homeowners spotted a pair of bird feet sticking out their wood burning stove. The Scottish SPCA were called to the address in Hazlehead, Aberdeen, on October 10 after the worried residents feared a hawk had become stuck inside their chimney.
But after attempts to pull the bird free were unsuccessful, rescuers realised it was actually a large tawny owl who was too big to be pulled out of the in-tact burner. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service soon arrived to help with the unusual rescue mission but were also unable to get the owl unstuck.
Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer, Lynn Cruickshank, said, “This was quite a tricky rescue and when I first arrived all I could see were the bird’s feet and some feathers sticking out of the wood burner. I managed to get hold of the bird and get them out of the flue but I couldn’t get them past the damper at the top of the stove.
