An Isle of Wight County resident was driving his GMC pickup truck down a snowy Virginia road when he picked up an unexpected passenger that never wanted a ride in the first place. The driver accidentally collided with a local wild owl.

The owl got stuck in the GMC pickup truck’s grille

Unfortunately, the grille slats were just the right size to trap the Barred Owl’s head. The driver, who appears to be a Smithfield volunteer firefighter, realized the animal was alive, but couldn’t free itself.

Luckily, his neighbor was on her way home from work, which happens to be the Isle of Wight County animal control office. She drove right up to the anxious pair.

He waved Officer Brock down. After assessing the situation, she released the Barred Owl from the vehicle’s front end, donning protective gloves.

After the rescue, the owl landed at Nature’s Nanny Wildlife Rehabilitation, a local center, to treat any injuries.

“Who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all”

Barred Owls are the most common breed found in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Services estimates that around 3.5 million Barred Owls call the state home. These owls are territorial, sharing the state with one of their predators, the Great Horned Owl.

Despite their high population, most folks hear the owl more often than spotting one out and about. You might recognize their call, which sounds like, “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all.”

The VDW says that although it doesn’t consider Barred Owls an endangered species, cars pose a significant risk to their safety. The GMC pickup truck incident is a good example of the dangers the birds face daily.