Adorable Owlet Snuggles into Rescuer’s Cheek

• Nikki Robinson spotted an injured owlet on her way home one day.
• Realizing the owlet may need to be checked, she wrapped the little one in a towel and put her safely in a box as she drove to a wildlife rehab center.
• On the way, the owlet kept getting out of the box, to jump onto her shoulder and snuggle into her cheek!

Nikki Robinson was on her way home from a hike one day when she noticed a cat crossing the street. When she followed the cat to make sure he’s safe, she had no idea that she would be saving the life of another animal — an owlet.

Nikki heard a noise as she was following the cat.

She told The Dodo, “I heard what I thought was an injured squirrel. [I] followed the sound and found a fluffball in the wildflowers.” 

Nikki, who is studying to be a wildlife rehabilitator, spotted a tiny eastern screech owlet. It was too young to fly, so she thought that he might have fallen from his nest.

Nikki recalled, “He was still close to the roadside. I looked around for a nest or tree hole, but couldn’t see anything. He was quivering a lot, and I was worried about a head injury.”

Nikki consulted her fellow wildlife rehabbers, who agreed to check the owlet out.

So she wrapped the tiny owlet in towels, put her in a box, turned on the seat warmer, and placed the box on top.

But the owlet did not want to stay inside the box.

Nikki shared, “He kept trying to climb out of the closed box. When I checked on him, he would jump onto me and sit happily on the seat belt or my shoulder.”

She shared, “I’m sure he was just cold, but he did stop shivering when he snuggled into my cheek.”

The owlet’s health improved after spending a night in an incubator at the wildlife rehab center. After getting the care he needs, he will one day be able to return to the wild.

And that’s all thanks to his rescuer, whom he has already shown appreciation for.

You can check out more of Nikki’s wildlife photos on Instagram.

Source: The Dodo