NewsLocal News

Actions

Missing great horned owl that disappeared during Tropical Storm Debby from Brandon has been found

Raptor Center of Tampa Bay continues search for a missing Great Horned Owl in Brandon
Missing Owl
Posted
and last updated

BRANDON, Fla. — The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay found a great horned owl that went missing from the center last month.

The center posted on Facebook Monday that "Charlie is home!"

The owl named "Charlie" disappeared from its enclosure in Brandon during Tropical Storm Debby earlier this month.

Nancy Murrah is the founder of the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay. She has cared for Charlie since he was six weeks old.

"He’s a large owl. He has what you think of as tufts, a lot of people call them ears, the proper term is actually plumicorns," said Nancy Murrah.

Charlie is also blind in his right eye. He was rescued four years ago when a stray cat clawed his eye, damaging his eyesight.

He can fly, but he wears anklets and jesses (falconry equipment).

"A lot of times, he will respond to his name. He has been used as an education bird. He's been around a lot of kids. He's been around a lot of people, educated tons of people on the birds of prey," said Murrah.

confirmed sighting of Charlie

The Raptor Center said they would post updates on how Charlie was found.

"We don't come home until they do."

Thousands of people are trapped in a growing war zone as conflict escalates in the Middle East. Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa-based nonprofit, has launched an operation to help evacuate Americans who are unable to leave on their own.

"We don't come home until they do": Tampa Veteran-Led team rescues Americans from Middle East war zone